Monumental Structures and Volcanic Activities: Excavating the Campana at San Andrés in the Zapotitán Valley, El Salvador

Akira Ichikawa

doi:10.1017/laq.2021.28

Abstract

This article presents stratigraphic data and radiocarbon dates combined with Bayesian modeling from San Andrés in the Zapotitán Valley, El Salvador, focusing on the Campana Structure, the largest and longest-used monumental structure at the site. These data refine the regional chronology of the valley and provide insights into the emergence, development, and abandonment of this pivotal center in southeastern Mesoamerica and its potential links to three related volcanic eruptions: Ilopango, Loma Caldera, and El Boquerón. These distinct volcanic events had pronounced effects on local people who innovated new monumental construction projects and used new volcanic debris as construction material after major eruptions. It is suggested that these monumental public building projects played an important role in the post-disaster recovery of societies by helping foster a sense of corporate identity. The use of volcanic material in constructions at San Andrés and the building of these massive structures may also have helped keep these events alive in the communal memory.

Highlights

This article presents stratigraphic data and radiocarbon dates combined with Bayesian modeling from San Andrés in the Zapotitán Valley, El Salvador, focusing on the Campana Structure, the largest and longest-used monumental structure at the site
This study aims to understand the interaction of volcanic disasters with the rise, development, and decline of San Andrés in El Salvador’s Zapotitán Valley, one of the most important primary centers in southeastern Mesoamerica
This study presents new data clarifying our understanding of the architectural sequences, construction techniques, and radiocarbon dating at San Andrés, focusing on the largest monumental structure known as the Campana and its surroundings

Summary

Introduction

This article presents stratigraphic data and radiocarbon dates combined with Bayesian modeling from San Andrés in the Zapotitán Valley, El Salvador, focusing on the Campana Structure, the largest and longest-used monumental structure at the site These data refine the regional chronology of the valley and provide insights into the emergence, development, and abandonment of this pivotal center in southeastern Mesoamerica and its potential links to three related volcanic eruptions: Ilopango, Loma Caldera, and El Boquerón. In research on social responses to volcanic eruptions, detailed studies—using a long-term perspective—of individual environmental settings where multiple volcanic events have occurred have recently gained importance (Torrence 2019:263) These provide insightful data that are challenging assumptions regarding human–volcanic interactions, such as the decision to stay or seek refuge elsewhere, who reoccupied post-eruption vacant landscapes, the development of a sense of place, relocation of agricultural land and living space, and food procurement in devasted areas (Chester et al 2005:102–103; Sheets 2016:153–154; Torrence 2019:262–263). Recent advances in archaeological dating techniques and Bayesian analyses provide opportunities to refine local carbon dating chronologies and establish more accurately the timing of eruptions and subsequent post-eruption recovery processes

Objectives

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Discussion

Conclusion