1887.] 4d7 [Briiiton. 



On on Ancient Human Footprint from Nicaragua. 



By D. G. Brinton, M.D. 



{Read before the American Philosophical Society^ Nov. 18/^,1 SSt.) 



The discovery of human footprints in volcanic rocks near the 

 shore of Lake Managua, Nicaragua, under circumstances which 

 seemed to assign them a remote antiquity, has been announced 

 for several years.* We owe thanks especially to Dr. Earl Flint, 

 of Rivas, Nicaragua, for information about this discover^', and 

 for sending several specimens to the United States. Four of 

 these are in the Peabod}^ Museum of Archaeology, Cambridge, 

 and recently, I have myself received one from Dr. Flint, to- 

 gether with several letters describing the locality. The posses- 

 sion of this material has induced me to present, along with its 

 description, a general review of the subject. 



The surface of the Republic of Nicaragua presents in nearly 

 all parts the signs of enormous volcanic activity. It is broken 

 by a complex series of mountain ranges whose sides are scored 

 wnth vast lava streams. Frequent earthquakes attest the con- 

 tinued energy of the subterranean forces and prepare us for 

 incidents of elevation and subsidence on an uncommon scale. 



The great lakes of Nicaragua and Managua are divided by a 

 low plain through which flows the river Tipitapa connecting these 

 sheets of water. South of this lowland rises a mesa or table- 

 land 400 or 500 feet above the level of the lakes, and upon this 

 stand the volcanic cones of Mombacho (4588 feet) and Masaya 

 (2972 feet). Beyond these, the land still rising, reaches its 

 height in the Sierras de Managua, presenting the craters of the 

 extinct volcanoes of Tizcapa, Nezcapa (Nehapa^,and- Asososco ; 

 and further to the north-west, immediately upon the shores of the 

 Lake Managua, the still smoking peaks of Chiltepec (2800 feet) 

 and Momotombo (6121 feet). 



The last named (Momotombo) was active in 1852, and Masaj-a 

 in 1858 and 1872, w4iileMombacho,though quiet, so far as we know, 

 since the conquest, according to tradition, destroj^ed an impor- 

 tant town just before that epoch, and its sides still reveal signs 



* The following are the p'iiicipal references : Letter of Dr. Flint, dated Jan. 7, 1884, in 

 the American Antiqnwinn, March, 1881 ; Vith Report nf the Peahody Museum for 1884, page 

 356; 18</i -Report of the same, 18 i), page 411; Proceedings of the American Antiquarian So- 

 cietij, 1881, p. 92. Letter of Dr. Flint in American Antiquarian, May, 1885. 



