Ancient settlements in Costa Rica, found along the Reventason River, turned out to be the oldest in Central America. Radiocarbon analysis of the objects found there showed that they are about 12.2 thousand years old.
Excavations at the site of a hydroelectric power plant on the Reventason River began in 2001 after workers unearthed 66 ancient settlements. The total area of excavations is 1,018 hectares, the work is carried out under the guidance of the National Archaeological Commission. At the same time, the extraction of finds from the ground began only this year.
Radiocarbon analysis of the recovered objects assigns them to the Paleo-Indian period, which lasted from the 15th to the 7th millennium BC. The first known human settlements in the New World date back to this period.
In 66 settlements on both banks of the Reventason River, archaeologists have unearthed petroglyphs, dwelling foundations, stone tools, pottery, cooking utensils, burial items and other finds, including stone paths.
In addition, tools for carving, hunting and gathering were found, as well as items indicating that the inhabitants of the settlements could engage in agriculture.
The age of the finds - 12.2 thousand years - makes them the most ancient evidence of human habitation in this region.
Most of the objects will be transferred to the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage at the National Museum of Costa Rica, but some finds that cannot be transported due to their large size or weight will remain in place - they will be included in the exposition of the cultural center, which will be created on the territory of the future hydroelectric power plant.