History of El Salvador - Before The Spanish Conquest

Before The Spanish Conquest

Before the Spanish conquest, the area that now is El Salvador was composed of three indigenous states and several principalities. In central Mexico were the indigenous inhabitants the Pipils, a tribe of the nomadic people of Nahua that were settled there for a long time. "The Pipil were a determined people who stoutly resisted Spanish efforts to extend their dominion southward."

The region of the east was populated and the governed by the Lencas. The North zone of the Lempa Hi River was populated and governed by the Chortis, a Mayan people.

Early in their culture, the Pipil became one of the few Mesoamerican indigenous groups to abolish human sacrifice. Otherwise, their culture was similar to that of their Aztec and Maya neighbors. Remains of the historculture are still found at ruins such as Tazumal (near Chalchuapa), San Andrés, and Joya de Cerén (north of Colón).

"Several notable archaeological sites contain dwellings and other evidence of daily life 1400 years ago; these were found preserved beneath 6 m (20 ft) of volcanic ash."