The Machalilla were a prehistoric people in Ecuador, in southern Manabí and the Santa Elena Peninsula.

Like many prehistoric cultures of coastal Ecuador, the people practiced artificial cranial deformation by using stones to flatten and lengthen their skulls.

[1] Archaeologists have also excavated ceramic pots, human figurines,[5] pitchers, whistles, and candlesticks from Machalilla digs.

[3][4] One of the problems with determining the proper date range is the method of cultural termination.

[6] Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo UEES in Guayaquil, Ecuador has a collection of Machalilla artifacts.