Honorable Mention: Howler Monkey

The coast of southern Manabi, Ecuador, is the FAU Ecuador Field School scenario, where students and instructors develop archaeological and anthropological research every summer. Within the different landscapes of this unique region, the Cloud Forest of the Machalilla National Park is one of the more interesting. An exuberant nature with several species of mammals, birds, trees, and archaeological sites surrounds the people of the Cloud Forest. For the summer of 2024, our team was excavating one of the monumental settlements with the companion of Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata), who lived in the canopy. The monkeys used to howl in the canopy and throw seeds at our excavation place.

Mante?±o people, who lived in this territory at least 500 years ago, shared the same fascination with nature as us today, representing their environment in their cultural representation. Finding a ceramic howler monkey mask in the stratigraphy was a great surprise. This monkey is now part of the stories of the FAU Anthropology Department.