Cueva La Conga

First Karst Cave Archaeology in Nicaragua

Bibliographic Data

ID4373829
AuthorsSuzanne Baker, Suzanne M Baker, Ruth Ann Armitage
Year2013
Volume24
Issue3
Pages309-329
Publication date2013-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLatin American Antiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1045-6635 • E-ISSN: 2325-5080
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.7183/1045-6635.24.3.309
OpenAlexW2328574951
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited24

Cueva la Conga, recorded in June 2006, is the first limestone cave in Nicaragua reported to contain prehistoric rock paintings, culturally modified natural formations called speleothems, and artifacts. Located in northcentral Nicaragua in the Department of Jinotega, Cueva la Conga is the farthest south on the Mesoamerican periphery that a cave of this type has been reported, and it extends our knowledge of ritual cave use, including cave painting and speleothem modification, to include Nicaragua. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal in five samples of the paint, the first such dating of Nicaraguan rock art, yielded calibrated dates from cal A.D. 680-905 to cal A.D. 1403-1640. The baseline data provided by Cueva la Conga are of great importance for regional rock art analysis and for our growing understanding of regional and Nicaraguan prehistory. More archaeological survey and excavations in the area will be key in establishing a firm cultural context for the rock art and ritual cave use found at Cueva la Conga

Archaeology · Cave · Cave painting · China · Context (archaeology · Geography · Karst · Prehistory · Radiocarbon dating · Rock art · Rock shelter · Southern china · Speleothem · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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