ETHNOARCHAEOLOGY OF MANTEÑO ARCHITECTURE IN RIO BLANCO ECUADOR: A PRE-COLUMBIAN HOME OF THE CLOUD FOREST

This thesis aims to answer questions about preconquest natives, defined by archaeologists as the Manteño culture (800-1533C.E.), in the cloud forests of Rio Blanco, Ecuador. Descriptions of the excavation units are made focusing on the architectural aspect of their dwelling. The cultural remains of the inhabitants also helped to conclude that this was a domestic house. Using an ethnoarchaeological theory base, modern home building analogies are employed to address questions about the archaeological process.