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| Representation of dolphins on a tortero (Instrument used for weaving). Manteño Culture (500-1500 AD) |
By: Cristina Castro. Researcher, expert in cetaceans.
The Ecuadorian coast, after 10,000 years of human occupation, was the scene of very important cultural processes. Isla de la Plata, located in the Machalilla National Park, was a ceremonial and commercial exchange center used by many cultures settled on the Ecuadorian coast.
Ceramics allowed man to capture, appreciate, and represent nature, articulating it to his forms of material and ideological expression. During many years of research we have sought archaeological evidence (ceramic pieces as well as pictorial representations) that reveal the age and presence of the Humpback Whales in Ecuador.
There are many anthropomorphic pieces made from the teeth of orcas and sperm whales. There is no evidence to date that our ancient navigators were dedicated to whale hunting, the origin of the teeth of orcas and other cetaceans could be from strandings of these. In ceramics and cakes, there are zoomorphic figures similar to sea lions and dolphins that date back to the Machalilla culture (1500-1200 BC).
One of the most interesting myths on the coast of Manabí is the presence of Birriel (a kind of phantom galleon that affected artisanal fishing in colonial times). According to many archaeologists, this myth may refer to pirate ships or to some huge marine animal such as humpback whales.
Source: Whale Watching Guide from the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador and the Mixed Fund for Tourism Promotion.
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