Analysis of osteological remains from Salango, Ecuador with comparisons to four other coastal Ecuadorian sites

Archaeological Site 035 Tomb, located in Salango, Ecuador contains remains associated with the Manteno culture which flourished during the Integration period from A.D. 500 until the Spanish Conquest in 1532. Although agriculture played a role in the diet of these people, marine resources were utilized for both food and trade. Osteological remains of at least 14 individuals were excavated from this site and examined to determine the variation in the population of this region. The following four sites were used as comparisons to the Salango site based on their geographical location and their temporal relationship to Salango: Real Alto, Ayalan, La Libertad, and La Tolita. These sites were analyzed to determine how agriculture and environment played a role in their health and nutrition. This study indicates that pre-Colombian cultures of the region may not have been entirely integrated and that the various populations may have engaged in varied lifestyles.