Mayo-Chinchipe

The Mayo-Chinchipe or Mayo-Chinchipe-Marañon culture existed from c. 5500 – 1700 BCE in the highlands of what is now Ecuador and north Peruvian Andes eastern slopes.

[3] The best known Mayo-Chinchipe site is Santa Ana (La Florida), where a temple and ceremonial hearth have been found.

In the same general area, in Palanda, Ecuador (just across the border with Peru), a tomb was found with stone and ceramic artifacts, as well as cacao and Spondylus shells.

The culture is believed to have included shamanism and other specialist work roles.

[4] It used stone and pottery technologies, and consumed cacao and possibly corn beer.