Ancient footprints of Acahualinca

Ancient footprints of Acahualinca
2100-year-old human footprints preserved in volcanic mud near the lake in Managua, Nicaragua.

The Ancient footprints of Acahualinca (Spanish pronunciation: [akawaˈliŋka]; Spanish: Huellas de Acahualinca) exist in Managua, Nicaragua near the southern shore of Lake Managua (Lago Xolotlán). The region was once called "El Cauce".[1] The tracks are fossil Late Holocene human footprints left behind in volcanic ash and mud, which solidified about 2,120±120 years ago, shortly after the group of up to 15 people passed by.[2]

It is sometimes reported that the people were running to escape from a volcanic explosion, but the distance between the footprints indicates a walking gait.[3] Fossilized footprints of several animals are also present, but the fact that they intersect the human footprints shows they were not traveling with the people.[4]

Contents

Scientific analysis of the footprints

In 1874, construction workers discovered the footprints. The United States medical doctor and archaeological collector, Earl Flint, brought the footprints to the attention of the international science community and media in 1884.[5]

The Carnegie Institution of Washington began the first scientific analysis and excavations of the area in 1941 and 1942. They also constructed a museum and a building to protect the footprints.[6]

Work was continued by Joaquín Matilló, Allan L. Bryan and Jorge Espinoza in the 1960s and 1970s. Allan L. Bryan, from the University of Alberta, used radiocarbon dating to determine the age of soil humates, from a buried soil directly underlying the footprints, to 5,945±145 radiocarbon years Before Present.[3] Based upon this date, he estimated that the footprints dated to about 5,000 Before Present. But, later dating of the volcanic deposits in which they occur, known as the Masaya Triple Layer, demonstrated that the fossil tracks are only about 2,120 ± 120 years old.[2] In 1978, the Nicaraguan researcher Jorge Espinoza continued the excavation near the termination of the original excavation. He uncovered more footprints at a depth of 4 meters.[4] The track is believed to continue further.[7]

Specimens of these footprints can be seen at both the Peabody Museum of Archaeology at Harvard University and the United States National Museum.[8]

Human and animal footprints.

The Footprints

The Lake of Managua was an important source on the survival of Man of Acahualinca. On its banks could hunt some animals and birds such as deer and raccoons, which also left his footprints imprinted on the mud volcano. (Information of the Museum)

Archaeologists suggest that 3000 years ago most of the societies that lived in Central America were dedicated to the hunter-gatherer for their livelihood, through plants and fruits, supplemented by hunting and fishing.

Acahualinca Museum

Polychrome ceramic pot. Museo Sitio Huellas de Acahualinca.

The "Museo Sitio Huellas de Acahualinca" is located at west of Managua, in the eponymous Acahualinca town. The museum was founded in 1953 by Nicaraguan scientist Leonor Martínez, later in 1989, was rescued, restored and fitted out with the support of “ASDI” and the Historical Museum of Sweden. In addition to footprints, the museum features a small collection of pottery and other items of archaeological interest from several sites in Nicaragua. Previously there were stone tools and a skull from León Viejo.[9]

References

  1. ^ Brinton, D.G. (1887). "On an ancient human footprint from Nicaragua". Am. Philos. Soc. Proc. 24 (126): 437–444. JSTOR 983095. 
  2. ^ a b Schmincke, H.-U., S. Kutterolf, W. Perez, J. Rausch J, A. Freundt, and W. Strauch, 2008, Walking through volcanic mud: the 2,100 year-old Acahualinca footprints (Nicaragua). I Stratigraphy, lithology, volcanology and age of the Acahualinca section. Bulletin of Volcanology. v. 51, no. 5, p. 479-493. doi: 10.1007/s00445-008-0235-9
  3. ^ a b Bryan, Alan L (1973). "New light on ancient Nicaraguan footprints". Archaeology 26 (2): 146–147. 
  4. ^ a b "Acahualinca Footprints Museum". Nicaragua.com. http://www.nicaragua.com/museums/acahualinca-footprints/. Retrieved 2007-10-28. 
  5. ^ Flint, Earl (1884). "Human footprints in Nicaragua". Am. Antiquarian 6: 112–114. Flint, Earl (1885). "Human footprints in Nicaragua". Am. Antiquarian 7: 156–158. 
  6. ^ Carnegie Institution of Washington. "Geologic observations on the ancient human footprints near Managua, Nicaragua". Contributions to American Anthropology and History 11 (52). 
  7. ^ "Ancient footprints of Acahualinca". ViaNica. http://www.vianica.com/activity/36/ancient-footprints-of-acahualinca. Retrieved 2007-10-28. 
  8. ^ Brown, Roland W; US Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. (January 1947). "Fossil plants and human footprints in Nicaragua". Journal of Paleontology 21 (1): 38–40. JSTOR 1299291. 
  9. ^ Acahualinca Footprints Museum

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