by Paul Parisi, originally published in Nica News 20 (February 1999)

	A detail of the footsteps at Acahualinca. Photo: Tomas Stargardter

Pre-history is that hazy time long ago when humans lived and, by chance, left something as a reminder of their passing. Archaeologists avidly scrape at the ground to find things such as bones, both those of pre-historic peoples and the animals they ate. Non-perishable items, specifically stone tools "whether shaped by nature and used as a tool or shaped by hand for a particular purpose" are a source of joy for ecstatic archaeologists who use them to study the daily existence of those long-dead individuals.

Though pre-historic relics may be examined to determine some of what was happening back then, most people at that time were not thinking of immortalizing themselves. Magnificent works like the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs or the Stonehenge of the Druids were still thousands of years in the future. Yet, people did leave traces of their existence that are here for the finding in Nicaragua.

The Acahualinca footprints are an excellent example of man's passing record and form part of an exciting puzzle. Though many pieces are missing, it gives us some clues as to who we are, where we came from, and why we are here.

Nicaragua has many fine sites from the colonial, pre-Columbian, and pre-historic eras. I list these in this order not just because of the chronological sequence but also because as we look back over time and the traces left by people during its passage, the further back we go the fewer there are.

Several reasons for that scarcity come to mind immediately. One that can be readily observed at the Acahualinca site is that very old occurrences are buried under what transpired afterward. The footprints are about four meters below the level of the modern walkway surrounding the museum.

While standing there looking down on those silent reminders of humankind's passage through what is now part of Managua, observe how one set of prints "the larger" are apart and that several smaller sets seem to track one over the other. It is as if these smaller, less deeply-imprinted footprints demonstrate to us how humans huddle together in the face of adversity, be it natural or brought upon by ourselves.

There are several theories regarding what was occurring at the time these footprints were made. Certainly, whatever it was, did not necessarily inspire fear in those people.

Perhaps the volcanic activity and falling ash that covered the traces of their passage was commonplace to them. Perhaps the awesome power of an eruption had spent itself and they, also having exhausted their energies, simply desired to put as much distance between themselves and the source or the turmoil. Perhaps they were walking toward the lake to quench their thirst in its then crystalline waters or quell their hunger by catching a fish or fowl.

We can never know. One thing is certain: these people were not running at this point. The prints' evidence that is was an organized group, and the spacing between footfalls indicates that they were walking.

Another reason that sites with a wealth of relics are so rare is that there were far fewer people then, and they did not have as much garbage to throw away as we do today. What was then an unneeded or lost article is now a treasured artifact.

One day, ancient man or woman awoke and pondered death, and tried to make sense of it. In that attempt, there was the need to somehow leave behind their new understanding.

This may explain the marvelous and mysterious swirls and spirals that abound on the islands of Muerte, Ometepe, Zapatera and others, and on the main land shores of Lake Nicaragua. It may explain in part what the fantastic carvings seen there and on the islands of the Solentiname Archipelago are attempting to pass along.

Nicaragua, fortunate in the proliferation and diversity of its archaeological record, is also lucky that this has not caught the attention of the general public. This does not mean, however, that all sites everywhere are undisturbed by the rapacious grave robber. It only means that there is much to be discovered and studied in a serious and productive manner.

Great civilizations rose and fell along the entire backbone of the Americas, each in its time adding to that impressive accumulation of humanity's passing. We humans appear compelled to mark our comings and goings. How else can one explain the billions of dollars of debris slowly gathering dust on the distant surface of the moon?

Fortunately, we don't have to travel that far to witness the marking of humanity's time. Here in the nearby environs of Managua are other sites that are just a day trip away. All one need do is keep both the eye and the imagination open.