Turrialba
The ICSEM 10 took place in the City of Turrialba, approximately 68 km (42 miles) east of San José, the capital of Costa Rica.
Archaeological documentation of the country had demonstrated scattered prehispanic presence across the country. However, the most important archaeological features in Costa Rica have been found in Turrialba and have been dated back approximately 10000 years (Durán-Mora 2012). For this reason, the Costa Rican government, declared Turrialba a city of national archaeological interest (Decreto ejecutivo 14557, 1983).
Archaeological sites have shown that lithic technologies were prominent in the region of Turrialba and lithic tools have been the most important findings used to document the area. However, ceramics, architecture, petroglyphs and sculptures have also been found across the region and used for the same reason (Fig 1, Acuña 2012). Similar tools and human artifacts found in other parts of the country have been dated back 4000 years, suggesting Turrialba has had human presence for a longer period of time than other parts of Costa Rica, and in a regional context, Turrialba has been a fantastic area to document the human transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers in this part of the world.
Archaeological documentation of the country had demonstrated scattered prehispanic presence across the country. However, the most important archaeological features in Costa Rica have been found in Turrialba and have been dated back approximately 10000 years (Durán-Mora 2012). For this reason, the Costa Rican government, declared Turrialba a city of national archaeological interest (Decreto ejecutivo 14557, 1983).
Archaeological sites have shown that lithic technologies were prominent in the region of Turrialba and lithic tools have been the most important findings used to document the area. However, ceramics, architecture, petroglyphs and sculptures have also been found across the region and used for the same reason (Fig 1, Acuña 2012). Similar tools and human artifacts found in other parts of the country have been dated back 4000 years, suggesting Turrialba has had human presence for a longer period of time than other parts of Costa Rica, and in a regional context, Turrialba has been a fantastic area to document the human transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers in this part of the world.
Very linked to its American indigenous tradition, the name Turrialba has been suggested to derive from the word Toriaravae, which means “sacrificial altar of the Toris (an indigenous group)” (Valerio Rodríguez 1953). By 1569, colonial Spanish documents already mention a settlement called Turrialba, Turriarva or Turiarva in the same location where the current city is located. This fact has allowed historians to conclude that the name existed before colonial times and that it does not have any Latin or Aragonese roots, as some people had previously suggested.
Indigenous people in the original town of Turrialba migrated to neighboring areas as early as 1544, after the establishment of Spanish colonial groups, and a census carried out in 1611 counted 400 indigenous people in town (Salazar Obando 1970). The later population of Turrialba consisted of a predominance of mestizos and cholos, or people with mixed blood heritage (Solano Pérez 2012a). Today, the indigenous communities of Turrialba are represented by Cabécar groups completely integrated with the rest of the local community (Fig 2).
Indigenous people in the original town of Turrialba migrated to neighboring areas as early as 1544, after the establishment of Spanish colonial groups, and a census carried out in 1611 counted 400 indigenous people in town (Salazar Obando 1970). The later population of Turrialba consisted of a predominance of mestizos and cholos, or people with mixed blood heritage (Solano Pérez 2012a). Today, the indigenous communities of Turrialba are represented by Cabécar groups completely integrated with the rest of the local community (Fig 2).
By 1834, the population of Turrialba only consisted of 74 people, but the area was located along a historical "Royal Route" that communicated Costa Rica's Central Valley and the Caribbean coast, giving it importance for future plans (Solano Pérez 2012b). One of these plans was the colonization of the area by Germans and Prusians from the "Central American Berlinese Colonization Society" led by Baron Alexander Von Bulow in 1852. However, by 1856 all immigrants had already died and the project ended.
In 1868, a new project to build a railroad passing through Turrialba, financed by British companies and mainly to export Costa Rican coffee to Europe, also failed due to economic imbalances brought in by intermediaries (Valerio 1953). However, a new deal was obtained by New York businessman Minor Cooper Keith in 1884 and the complete railroad from Costa Rica's capital to the Caribbean coast was finished in 1890 (Solano Pérez 2012b). Only 10 years later, by 1900, Turrialba was already a consolidated train town in Costa Rica (Figs 3, 4 and 5)
In 1868, a new project to build a railroad passing through Turrialba, financed by British companies and mainly to export Costa Rican coffee to Europe, also failed due to economic imbalances brought in by intermediaries (Valerio 1953). However, a new deal was obtained by New York businessman Minor Cooper Keith in 1884 and the complete railroad from Costa Rica's capital to the Caribbean coast was finished in 1890 (Solano Pérez 2012b). Only 10 years later, by 1900, Turrialba was already a consolidated train town in Costa Rica (Figs 3, 4 and 5)
In 1903, Turrialba was conferred the level of canton (the only form of local administrative, economic and political control in Costa Rica) by the Costa Rican goverment and since then, its development and future has been defined by the local community (Valerio Rodríguez 1953). The 1st of August of 1925, Turrialba acquired the title of "City" given its regional importance attracting a number of local and foreign immigrants. In fact, two of the first business in the city were owned by foreigners, a small hotel owned by an American and the first grocery store established by Spanish Carlos Figuls.
Today, Turrialba is a city of about 30000 people with interesting characteristics that make it different to other places in Costa Rica. As the original gateway to the Caribbean, Turrialba is connected to the Central Valley and different areas of the Caribbean plains. It is also linked with the Grano de Oro community, where indigenous groups of the Cabécar lineages live. Whitewater rafting and tourism once the main source of income along with the production of sugar cane and coffee, still exist in the area. However, a clear diversification of economic activities has taken place in this region. One of the most important companies manufacturing baseballs is located in this city as well.
A number of universities are located in the city of Turrialba and the general population is well educated. Approximately 94% of the population has had high school education (in 2014) and a national evaluation has placed Turrialba halfway within the observed ranges of human development, purchasing power, life expectancy and knowledge in Costa Rica. The Turrialba Cheese, produced in the district of Santa Cruz is one few national products protected by the "denomination of origin" system.
The emblem of the Turrialba canton shows an orchid surrounded by coffee branches symbolizing the rich biodiversity and the importance of coffee for local progress (Figure 6). It also shows the famous Turrialba Volcano, currently active, as well as an archaeological artifact due the rich history of the area and a gear used in the production of artisanal sugar, which was the main product of the region.
A number of universities are located in the city of Turrialba and the general population is well educated. Approximately 94% of the population has had high school education (in 2014) and a national evaluation has placed Turrialba halfway within the observed ranges of human development, purchasing power, life expectancy and knowledge in Costa Rica. The Turrialba Cheese, produced in the district of Santa Cruz is one few national products protected by the "denomination of origin" system.
The emblem of the Turrialba canton shows an orchid surrounded by coffee branches symbolizing the rich biodiversity and the importance of coffee for local progress (Figure 6). It also shows the famous Turrialba Volcano, currently active, as well as an archaeological artifact due the rich history of the area and a gear used in the production of artisanal sugar, which was the main product of the region.
Current images of the city of Turrialba (below, obtained in January 2018) show the general aspect of the city, its people and the weather during the first months of the year. The average temperature of Turrialba in the January-February period is about 23 degrees Celsius (73 Fahrenheit) with rainfall oscillating between 100-160 mm (4-6 inches) per month. The elevation of the city is 642 m and since it is located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, both the flora and fauna are typical of wet-to-rain tropical areas with high diversity of plants, vertebrates... and myxomycetes?
References
Acuña VJ. 2012. Turrialba prehispánica, ejemplo de continuidad histórica. In: Rodriguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho mas que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Decreto ejecutivo 14557. 1983. Gaceta de la República de Costa Rica número 103 del 31 de mayo de 1983.
Durán-Mora E. 2012. De cazadores-recolectores a agricultores: los 8000 años de la historia precolombina de Turrialba. En: Rodríguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho mas que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Salazar Obando O. 1970. Monografía de Turrialba. Municipalidad de Turrialba, Costa Rica.
Solano-Pérez V. 2012a. Turrialba durante la conquista y la colonia. In: Rodriguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho mas que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Solano-Pérez V. 2012b. Turrialba en el siglo XIX, poblamiento y economia. In: Rodriguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho más que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Valerio Rodríguez J. 1953. Turrialba, su desarrollo histórico. Editorial Tormo S.A. San Jose, Costa Rica.
Acuña VJ. 2012. Turrialba prehispánica, ejemplo de continuidad histórica. In: Rodriguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho mas que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Decreto ejecutivo 14557. 1983. Gaceta de la República de Costa Rica número 103 del 31 de mayo de 1983.
Durán-Mora E. 2012. De cazadores-recolectores a agricultores: los 8000 años de la historia precolombina de Turrialba. En: Rodríguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho mas que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Salazar Obando O. 1970. Monografía de Turrialba. Municipalidad de Turrialba, Costa Rica.
Solano-Pérez V. 2012a. Turrialba durante la conquista y la colonia. In: Rodriguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho mas que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Solano-Pérez V. 2012b. Turrialba en el siglo XIX, poblamiento y economia. In: Rodriguez R, Gil Salas E, Solano W (eds.). Turrialba: mucho más que cien años. EUNED, Costa Rica.
Valerio Rodríguez J. 1953. Turrialba, su desarrollo histórico. Editorial Tormo S.A. San Jose, Costa Rica.