Did You Know - The Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center (Centro
Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes) is currently considered by archeologists
to be the oldest indigenous ceremony center in Boriken (Puerto Rico). It
represents a continuous habitation of indigenous peoples more than 1,000 years
before Columbus encountered the New World. Within its designated 40 acres
of this park owned by the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, one of the largest
burial grounds was also “discovered”. Arql. Luis Á. Rodríguez Gracia cites the earliest
inhabitants as Igneri with preceding populations as “pre-Taino” and finally Taíno.
The
site consists of “nine ball courts and three ceremonial plazas” as well as a
Museum, garden, and several “recreated pre-Columbian homes”. Rodríguez Gracia believes
it to be the oldest astronomical observatory in the Antilles. – UCTP Taino News
© 2012
