Mayo-Chinchipe
The Mayo-Chinchipe culture existed from c. 5500 – 1700BC in the highlands of what is now Ecuador.Location
It extended from the sources of Valladolid river, in the Podocarpus National Park in Ecuador, to where Chinchipe flows into the Marañon, and received its name from the river names.Culture
The best known Mayo-Chinchipe site is Santa Ana, where a temple and ceremonial hearth have been found. The culture is believed to have included shamanism and other specialist work roles. It used stone and pottery technologies, and consumed cacao and possibly corn beer.Trading
The culture is believed to have traded plants with coastal cultures such as the Valdivia.
