ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OF CHIRIJE

Discovered by the archaeologist Emilio Estrada in the 1950s, the site has unearthed remains of the Chirije culture. In the past, Chirije was an ancient port of the Bahia culture (500 BC to 500 AD). From Mexico to Chile, merchants traded the famous spondylus shell for gold and other precious metals. Ceramics, stones and shells from the Bahia, Jama Coaque, Chirije and Manteña cultures (500 BC to 1534 AD) can be seen.