c.

c. AD 1200 – 1500 (Ritual Performance): The areíto was a central communal ritual involving song, dance, and the recitation of oral histories. Performed in the central plazas of large villages, these events served to reinforce social cohesion and validate the lineage of the ruling cacique. Archaeologically, the significance of these rituals is marked by the presence of large, cleared plazas—sometimes lined with stone—and the recovery of musical instruments like shell trumpets and bone flutes. The areíto functioned as a “living archive,” ensuring that the community’s shared history and spiritual beliefs were transmitted across generations.