Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site

Infobox_nrhp
name = Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site
nrhp_type = nhl

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caption = Taíno ball courts at Caguana Site.
location = Utuado, Puerto Rico
nearest city =
lat_degrees = 18
lat_minutes = 17
lat_seconds = 49
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 66
long_minutes = 46
long_seconds = 55
long_direction = W
locmapin =
area =
built =
architect =
architecture =
designated = November 4, 1993cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2134&ResourceType=Site
title=Caguana Site |accessdate=2007-06-28|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = December 17, 1992
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 92001671cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
mpsub =
governing_body = Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña The Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site in barrio Caguana, Utuado, Puerto Rico, is considered one of the most important archeological sites in the West Indies. Studies estimate it is over 700 years old, built by the Taíno around 1270 AD. Approximately 30 ball courts ("bateyes") have been identified and many have been restored to their original state. Monoliths and petroglyphs carved by the Taínos can be seen among the rocks and stones, some weighing over a ton, that were most likely brought from the Tanama River located adjacent to the site. Also located near the site is the Cemí Mountain ("Montaña Cemí") which was believed, by the Taínos, to be the home of their gods and the reason they built the ball courts in that area.

The Puerto Rican Cultural Institute manages the site as a park under the name Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Center ("Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Caguana"). The National Park Service has placed it on the National Register of Historic Places, and designated it as a National Historic Landmark (under the name Caguana Site).

The park also includes a small museum containing Taíno artifacts, archaeological exhibits and a botanical garden featuring the plants the Taínos harvested for food, such as sweet potatoes, cassava, corn, and yautía. Many of the trees used by the Taínos to construct their homes ("bohíos"), such as mahogany and ceiba can be seen throughout the park.

References

External links

* [http://www.icp.gobierno.pr/ Puerto Rican Cultural Institute]
* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/prvi/pr25.htm National Park Service site description for visitors]
* [http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2134&ResourceType=Site National Historic Landmark description by the National Park Service]