The Past in the Present: Spondylus, Place, and Identity1

Spondylids of Eastern Pacific Ocean

“…In the late 1970s and early 1980s spondylids became again objects of direct exploitation, when the catch was extended to deeper areas, and for longer periods, prompted by the use of ''SCUBA'' and ''hookah'' (narghile) systems. Currently, although exploitation of spondylid shells is still carried out in some places, for the manufacture of jewelry, their main use is for consumption of the adductor muscle or ''callus'' ( The cause of the renewed demand of spondylids in Ecuador is unknown, although after being practically forgotten for a long time, an American archaeologist was responsible for ''restoring'' the traditional use of Spondylus species, according to reports of local divers in Salango, Manabi Province (Bauer & Lunniss 2010, Mackensen et al 2011). In the 1980s, dishes based on spondylids already appeared in the menus of restaurants in the province of Manabi.…”

Emergent Identity, Cultural Heritage, andEl Mestizaje: Notes from the Ecuadorian Coast

“…The museum is administered by the comuna Macaboa and it, along with knowledge of archaeology and community prehistory, serve as meaningful points of reference for the local population with regard to claims about indigenous identity. The continued work throughout the region by archaeologists helps to bolster local claims about ethnic identity while simultaneously providing the local population with unique insight into the prehistory of the region (Bauer and Lunniss 2010). In much the same way that cultural heritage is used to create a sense of national identity and shared values, it is also used to "forge identity and buttress self-esteem" by reflecting "personal or communal self interest" (Lowenthal 1994: 46) for populations that have historically been denied claims to cultural identity.…”

“…Multiple interviewees made direct mention of the Manteño culture as the last identifiable link to the indigenous past. The Manteño inhabited the region of southern Manabí province from AD 800 until Spanish contact in the early sixteenth century (Bauer and Lunniss 2010, Harris et al 2004, Martínez et al 2006 and there is significant archaeological evidence pointing to long distance trade networks associated with the Manteño (Currie 1995. Informant comments noting the Manteño included the direct assertion of a Manteño cultural identity, "somos Manteño" (we are Manteño) and the recognition that informant ancestors were Manteño, "nuestros antepasados fueron de la cultura Manteña" (our ancestors were of the Manteño culture).…”