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El Manati

744 Words3 Pages

Many characteristics made archaeologists believe that El Manati was a sacred place and a place where rituals were held. Archaeologists has recovered many artifacts around the surrounding area of Cerro Manati that lead them to believe the springs was a sacred place. Records show that there were three different phases, each with distinct differences in the way they organized their offerings and also the types of offerings they left behind. Offerings included a variety of axes, wooden busts, and cluster of infant bones. The earliest evidence that offerings were held at El Manati were discovered at the bottom of the spring. It was blocked off by a huge layer of sandstone rocks that were positioned in a north-south axis and there …show more content…

Axes were used on a daily basis. Many people believe that axes that were offered to the Gods symbolizes the importance of the tool in regards to agricultural rites. However, the axes that were found in El Manati was of superior quality and shows a drastic difference between domestic and ceremonial axes. Ceremonial axes shows great craftsmanship compared with the domestic axes. During the first two phases, axes were carefully formed to a certain distinct shape and size that looked almost similar to one another. During the Macayal phase, the form of axes was ignored, and it was the surface texture that was viewed as …show more content…

Hills were considered the “houses of rain gods” that controlled water, lightning, and thunder. “In Mesoamerican history and mythology… there existed and still persists today the belief in a supernatural being, the lord of nature, of mountains and valleys, of vegetation, of the rivers and springs that give life…” (Ortiz 2000:86). Their beliefs in turn shows the importance of ritual ceremonies and how important certain sacred places are. The artifacts that were collected at El Manati reflects the importance of certain items during the time, such as axes and wooden busts. The remnants undoubtedly had a significant underlying meaning but the only way archaeologists can do is interpret them. Rituals and offerings are vital to many cultures around the world, even today. We do not know the actual motive that made people go to El Manati to offer the goods they have but we can assume that it was to please the Gods. With the new information we have we can slowly find out the way the Olmec’s think, their religion, and even their way of

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