Volcanic Ash Yields Three Ancient Skeletons in El Salvador

News July 7, 2014

(Ministry of Culture)
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(Ministry of Culture)

 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR—The Japan Times reports that three nearly complete skeletons have been unearthed by a joint Salvadoran and Japanese team of archaeologists from a seven-foot layer of volcanic ash at Nueva Esperanza, thought to have been a center of salt production and fishing 1,600 years ago. The two adults had been between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of death. The third skeleton belonged to a child between seven and nine years of age, who had been buried wearing to clay beads around his or her neck. Further analysis could determine the sex, diet, and health status of the individuals. Clay pots and jars decorated with red and brown stripes were also found in the burials. 

 

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