Ancient footprints of Acahualinca

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6000 year old human footprints preserved in volcanic mud near the lake in Managua, Nicaragua.
6000 year old human footprints preserved in volcanic mud near the lake in Managua, Nicaragua.

The Ancient footprints of Acahualinca (pronounced [ˌakawaˈliŋka]; Spanish: Huellas de Acahualinca) exist in Managua, Nicaragua near the southern shore of Lake Managua (Lago Xolotlán). The region was once called "El Cauce".[1] The tracks are petrified Paleo-Indian human footprints left behind in volcanic ash and mud that solidified 6000 years ago, shortly after the group of up to 15 people passed by.

The Acahualinca tracks are the oldest human footprints and prehistoric record of human existence in Managua.

It is sometimes reported that the people were running to escape from a volcanic explosion, but the distance between the footprints indicates a walking gait.[2] Fossilized footprints of several animals are also present, but they intersect the human footprints and therefore were not traveling with the people.[3]

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[edit] Scientific analysis of the footprints

The footprints were discovered accidentally by construction workers in 1874. The American medical doctor and archaeological collector, Earl Flint, brought the footprints to the attention of the international science community and media in 1884.[4]

The Carnegie Institution of Washington began the first scientific analysis and excavations in 1941 and 1942, they also constructed a museum and a building to protect the footprints.[5]

Work was continued by Joaquín Matilló, Allan L. Bryan and Jorge Espinoza in the 1960s and 70s. Allan L. Bryan, from the University of Alberta, dated the sand directly under the footprints by radiocarbon dating to 5,945 +/- 145 years.[6] In 1978, a Nicaraguan researcher, Jorge Espinoza, continued the excavation near the termination of the original excavation and uncovered more footprints at a depth of 4 meters.[3] The track is believed to continue even further.[7]

Specimens of these footprints can be seen at both the Peabody Museum of Archaeology at Harvard University and the United States National Museum.[8]

[edit] Museum of Acahualinca

The Museum of Acahualinca (Museo Sitio Huellas de Acahualinca) is located in the west of Managua in the Acahualinca neighborhood. In addition to the footprints, the museum displays a small collection of pottery and other archeological objects from various localities in Nicaragua, such as mammoth footprints, pre-Columbian tools and a skull from León Viejo.[3]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Brinton, D.G. (1887). "On an ancient human footprint from Nicaragua". Am. Philos. Soc. Proc. 24: 437–444. 
  2. ^ Bryan, Alan L (1973). "New light on ancient Nicaraguan footprints". Archaeology 26 (2): 146–147. 
  3. ^ a b c "Acahualinca Footprints Museum", Nicaragua.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28. 
  4. ^ Flint, Earl (1884). "Human footprints in Nicaragua". Am. Antiquarian 6: 112–114. Flint, Earl (1885). "Human footprints in Nicaragua". Am. Antiquarian 7: 156–158. 
  5. ^ Carnegie Institution of Washington. "Geologic observations on the ancient human footprints near Managua, Nicaragua". Contributions to American Anthropology and History 11 (52). 
  6. ^ Bryan, Alan L (1973). "New light on ancient Nicaraguan footprints". Archaeology 26 (2): 146–147. 
  7. ^ "Ancient footprints of Acahualinca", ViaNica. Retrieved on 2007-10-28. 
  8. ^ Brown, Roland W; US Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. (1947). "Fossil plants and human footprints in Nicaragua". Journal of Paleontology 21 (1): 38–40. 
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