The Early Regional Development (100 BC-AD 300) funerary precinct at Salango, on the central coast of Ecuador, was situated at the point of convergence of the Bahía II and Early Guangala culture zones. With plentiful line drawings and colour photographs, this book uses pottery from the precinct to present a detailed and closely contextualized description of Early Regional Development ceramic traditions for coastal Ecuador. As a result, we gain valuable insights into the dynamics of cultural identity, transition, and interaction as manifest in a highly structured pottery assemblage from a key Pre-Columbian site of this area. Attention is brought to designs made with the two principal decorative modes: iridescent paint on serving wares and red finger paint designs on kitchen wares. Assemblage analysis points to the complex set of cultural factors and processes involved in its composition, and an important local ceramic tradition is identified for the first time. Spanish summaries are included for each chapter.

AUTHOR
Richard Lunniss holds a PhD from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. Since 1982 he has been closely involved in the study of Salango, on the central coast of Ecuador. He is currently a Research Professor at the Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo and a Research Archaeologist for Ecuador’s Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural.

REVIEW
‘The sample from Salango as well as the site itself is likely among the most important and most carefully excavated for the coastal region. This author’s work is among the few detailed presentations of the data. The publication also offers very clear, concise summaries of previous research which would be an easy and useful reference for anyone trying to understand the history of ceramic research for these periods on the coast of Ecuador.’ Dr Maria Masucci, Drew University