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Costa Rica's most important
archaeological site, is located in a patch of protected upland rain
forest 12 miles north of Turrialba, in Cartago Province.
 It is believed that the site was inhabited from 1500
BCE (BC) till about 1400 CE (AD), and though very little of what was once a city of
10.000 or more souls has been excavated, visitors can see parts of roadways,
aqueducts, pools, tombs and the foundations of homes. Plus unique
petroglyphs used as markers, maps, and more.
 The monuments main architectural
features are: cobble-paved causeways and streets; terraced stairways,
designed to overcome the differences in height between the causeways and
mounds; retaining walls; bridges; mounds used as foundations for
housing; open and walled-in aqueducts, many still in functioning today; and
cisterns: rectangular structures where water from the aqueducts was
stored.
There are petroglyphs everywhere, some representing animals such as:
birds and cats, and others which do not appear to have any significance.
Ceremonial monolithic tables, petroglyphs, pottery shards, and other
items are also found at the site. In addition, an example of the tall,
evergreen forests typical of the region is found here. The predominant
trees include the elm, bitter cedar, manni and magnolia.
Fauna is scarce because of the small size of the remaining preserved
area. Birds are the
most conspicuous, the most numerous being toucans and Montezuma
Oropendolas. Some species of insects, lizards, frogs, and toads are
common to the area.
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Central Structure 1976
Excavation Underway Now
Overview
(As It Was In 2003)
some photos ©1997
Michael L. Smith
others by Dr. Tim McGuinness
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