Map of Ometepe
Ometepe Island is a gigantic indigenous cultural center full of pottery that began to develop more during the formative period, 1500 years BC; during which the diffusion and the first exchanges characteristic of monochrome red and black pottery began, in which tripod basins, basins without support and plates of all sizes can be seen.
Ceramics from the period 500 years BC can also be found in large quantities, during this period the application of red slip began, and the black color in a zoned manner, on large utilitarian vessels and pots, in this period of incisions, sgraffito, and negative painting on figures.
Settlement of Ometepe
It is very old; the Chibchas and Tiaguanacos arrived in South America, occupying the Pacific strip and therefore the Island of Ometepe. These first ethnic groups were fruit gatherers, great fishermen and hunters. This first migration occurred approximately 10,000 BC, for this reason they believed themselves to be indigenous; this race inherited short stature, straight hair and a copper color. They were also the first to make rock utensils such as mortars and bowls, and something very notable: burials were made using flat stone tombstones 72 inches long by 36 inches wide.
The Mangues or Chorotegas
The Chorotega branch known as the Mangues arrived in the 3rd century AD and the strongest migration of the Chorotegas occurred in the 6th and 7th centuries. They quickly mixed with the natives and improved the technique of rock carving, thus continuing to sculpt statuary and writing on rocks in the form of griffins, thus giving rise to the recording of petroglyphs. These farmers and fishermen were the ones who carved many of the Nicaraguan statuary and ceramic pieces.
the nahuas
Finally, in the 9th and 10th centuries, the Nahuas arrived. They populated the Isthmus of Rivas and their main city was Nicarao Callí. They turned Ometepe into a sacred island and it was they who gave the final touch to the aboriginal culture, improving the techniques in pottery, refining the pieces in the elaboration and decoration, as well as the use of representations of animals in totemism.
