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Trade objects of Bahia origin found their way to all parts of the 
Ecuadorian coast as well, attesting to the existence of communications 
between the various regional cultures. Undoubtedly these few artifacts 
leave only a hint of the extensive commercial relations that existed and 
even less evidence of the ideas and concepts that may have accom- 
panied them. The maintenance of regional diversity is an indication 
not only of adaptation to local environmental resources, but also of 
the absence of politically unifying structure that went beyond the re- 
gional scope. There is no indication of warfare or defensive installa- 
tions from any part of the coast during this time. 
The versatile, well-organized, and energetic Bahia populace came 
into contact not only with the groups so far mentioned, but with 
strangers from more distant lands. Around 200 B.C. a complex of 
unique ritual objects makes its appearance, including small pottery 
neckrests, models of houses with saddle roofs and columns, realistic 
figurines seated with legs folded one above the other, novel golf-tee 
earplugs, and pendants of stone and pottery fashioned in the form of 
a tusk. These traits are not of equivalent antiquity elsewhere in the 
New World, whereas they are widespread and earlier on the western 
side of the Pacific. To equate their appearance with the arrival of a 
vessel from Asia seems the most reasonable way to account for them 
(Estrada and Meggers, 1961). The Bahia people, having demon- 
strated their receptivity to new religious ideas by their adoption of 
Mexican figurine styles and other ritual objects, might be expected to 
seize upon other innovations with equal enthusiasm — at least such an 
interpretation fits the evidence as it comes from the ground. It is 
doubtful that either of these foreign influences produced a funda- 
mental alteration in the already existing culture. In fact, the Guangala 
Phase, which borders the Bahia Culture on the south, received none 
of these influences and still achieved a comparable level of socio- 
political and religious development. 
There is some evidence of an environmental change toward the end 
of the Regional Developmental Period, and this seems to be correlated 
with the disappearance of the regional complexes. Along the coast of 
Guayas Province the mangrove swamps were converted into salitres. 
There are indications all along the coast of a decrease in rainfall. 
These changes increased the aridity of the coastal zone and rendered 
obsolete the simple agricultural methods that had been effective be- 
fore. Around a.d. 500 the cultural consequences begin to be evident 
that crystallize into the urban civilizations of the final Integration 
Period. 
