Thousands of years before the arrival of Columbus, civilization existed in Costa Rica. Evidence of human occupation, dates 10,000 years back. Perfectly spherical granite bolas, (balls) found near the west coast are among the cultural mysteries, left by the pre Columbian inhabitants. Some are small as a baseball, ranging in size, to that of a Volkswagen bus. Parque Nacional Guayabo, has ruins of an ancient city, with aqueducts and some marvellous gold and jade work, of about 1000 years ago, have been found in the southwest.
Evidence of the Olmec and Nahuatl Mexican civilizations influence, are found in archeological sites in the central highlands and Guanacaste. By the time that Columbus arrived, there were four major native tribes: the Caribs (East Coast), the Chibchas, Borucas, and Diquis (southwest)...read more>>>...
