... Pre-historical to Pre-columiban times ...
by Infocostarica Staff

Even though there is evidence that the American continent was inhabited approximately in 40,000 B.C. by groups of hunters that had crossed the Bering Strait from Asia, the land belonging to Costa Rica shows proof of people much later, in 12000 B.C. Initially, early man in Costa Rica was a hunter and a gatherer, but later, between 8000 and 4000 years B.C. nomadic groups started settling down and domesticating crops.

The period between 4000 and 1000 B.C. is extremely important for the development of the indigenous people. Since Costa Rica was located in a strategic position, in a land mass that served as a bridge between North and South America, it was influenced by different customs, including products and crops. The raising of tubers was popular in the Atlantic Area and was a result of South American influence, while the planting of grains such as corn and beans reflected North American- specifically Mexican- influence. Because of the advancement in agriculture, better tools had to be developed; not only were they used to plant but also to clear the tropical forests that would serve as fields.

After this critical period in time, pre-historical society as a whole was ready for greater growth. This change had a domino-effect nature, where one element provoked another one and so on. Improved agriculture meant the decrease of nomadic tendencies, while this meant an advancement in cultural and social development. Handiwork, both practical and artistic became widespread; there are beautiful necklaces and ceramic objects that have survived this time. Sedentariness in turn, demanded a use of a larger property (due to crop rotation), which in turn called for a more advanced political organization. The hunting group gave way to a larger tribe that now included a settlement or village as well as a new set of social relationships between its members.

The political hierarchy was headed by the "cacique", a chief that made use of supernatural beliefs to justify his almost unlimited power. Underneath him were various members of the religious and military nobility, then the common workers and finally the slaves. War became an important element of life, and was usually justified by territory expansion or defense and the acquisition of slaves. Each "cacicazgo" or tribe ruled by a "cacique" participated in a larger network of trade. The Atlantic and Southern tribes traded with Panama, Colombia and other South American countries, while in Guanacaste, trade occurred with Mexico and other Central American countries. Some of the common traded objects included: salt, cacao, quetzal wings and natural dyes. The political web didn't stop with "cacicazgos". There were also larger spheres of power called "señoríos" (similar to "lordships"). In the sixteenth century A.C., for example, there were several "señoríos" in such areas as Nicoya (Northwest), Suerre, Pococí and Talamanca (East and Southeast), Guarco and Garabito (Central Valley).

These different "cacicazgos" and "señoríos" displayed very distinct cultural, religious and linguistic patterns. Even the shelters and other structures varied immensely. However, some generalizations can be made when it comes to religion. Most tribes believed that people, animals and objects had a spirit, and that it could be good or evil. Also, most hierarchies included the character of the shaman, who served as the intermediary between this and the supernatural world. The "cacique" as well as the religious nobility were protected by the belief that they had been chosen by divine means , thus being in a position where they could take advantage of their people.

Regardless of cultural diversity in what is now Costa Rica, when Columbus first arrived in 1502, the region wasn't as advanced as the civilizations of Mexico, Guatemala or South America. The explorers and "conquistadores" that were to come after Columbus, didn't find great native empires; instead they found different tribes that were loosely connected or fragmented completely. The region was at a period where it was just beginning to awaken to greater development, and would have probably done so if it hadn't been for the untimely arrival of the Spaniards. The greatest challenges that the explorers would have to face, apart from small-scale attacks from the natives, were tropical diseases and terrain. None of the conquistadors of the region would have to plan as carefully as Cortés did with the Aztecs or Pizarro with the Incas, in order to pillage and colonize the region. The story of the conquest in what is now Costa Rica, is entirely different from the one told by its neighbors.