Puerto Rico Reveals Hidden Settlement
When starting to dig for a dam in the south of Puerto Rico no one could have been more surprised to find an ancient settlement than the archeologist who investigated the find. This magnificent discovery will surely become one of the most popular archaeological sites in Puerto Rico. Archeologists from both the United States and Puerto Rico have joined forces to uncover the hidden secrets of this ancient settlement.
It has been determined that the intriguing site dates back to between 600 A.D. and 1 500 A.D. This makes the site a significant find. Many insightful discoveries have been made at the site because of its well-preserved condition. It can clearly be seen that two settlements occupied this area: a Taino settlement and a pre-Taino settlement. Artifacts have previously been found in this area, but no one suspected that an entire settlement lay hidden underground. The U.S. Army Corps Engineers envisioned a dam, not a forty by fifty meter plaza from the past.
The massive central plaza that was excavated revealed a cemetery and beautifully decorated slabs, with each petroglyph still visible. Archeologists have suggested that the plaza might have been used for games or even for ritualistic purposes. Even though this site has just been uncovered, many people have already started to shower the work being done here with controversy. This happen when rumors started to circulate in regard to the bodies recovered from the cemetery. Some of the bodies found were buried in a facedown position, with their legs being bent at the knees. Even though this sounds like an extremely unusual position to bury a loved one in, the archeological society of Puerto Rico has commented that even though this is a rare find, it is not totally unheard of. But since the excavation of the bodies and the cemetery has not been completed, critics will just have to wait for the final results.
The excavation procedures have also come under attack, but authorities have assured the public that they are working towards the preservation of this ancient settlement. Some damage had been caused by the bulldozers that were contracted to dig on the site, but after the site was exposed, conventional hand excavation methods were applied and the most of the site will be preserved. Over and above the controversy and negativity, there is excitement over what the site might reveal next and is considered to be the greatest discovery in the entire Caribbean. Once work has been completed, this will no doubt be one of the most significant archeological sites in Puerto Rico, and a great attraction.
