This photo presentation follows three ethno-archaeological researchers deep into the rainforest of the Mayangna people, in the territory of a group of indigenous people of Nicaragua. The goal of their quest is to situate the different archaeological historical sites, mentioned in the indigenous oral tradition, shared to them by the Mayangna elders.

In the shadow of illegal land occupation, “piracy” and drugs trafficking and amidst the painful sights and sounds of deforestation, the team traces back the footsteps of the Mayangnas’ ancestors. The objective of the mission is to reach a more inclusive and integrated way of archaeological research. Meaning to assure the protection and conservation of the indigenous heritage both in material culture and the natural environment.

So archaeology can serve as a practical tool that touches and interrelates with other disciplines like: ecotourism, in which a light-footprint-presence of the public in the area stimulates heritage protection and conservation; agro-forestry, to promote a life in synergy with nature through sustainable forest markets; abundant gastronomy or the love for food, with the philosophy in which one plants the seeds of the food one eats.

On top of that, the study of the indigenous people of the past might uncover examples and be an inspiration for our present. As, according to oral traditions (worldwide), they did live in synergy with nature, they understood how to leave a light footprint and possessed an expansive knowledge on fauna&flora with moreover a deep understanding of the breath of the forest and its flowing waters.

Vine Babauni | First camping area Fruta de pan Ceiba | Godess of Trees Making a Panga boat vine becoming soap Mayangna Elder Rice Interview with Mayangna elders Primary forest Fresh vine water Kerosina | medicinal tree Primary forest Stone tool :: Hammerstone Encounter with ancient phallic statue

Living Images | Photography by Valerie Dierckxsens is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://valeriedierckxsensphotography.wordpress.com.

Living Images|Photography © 2011-2015 Valerie Dierckxsens.

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