U.S. funds intervention at El Salvador's Cihuatán archaeological site

El Salvador's largest archaeological site, Cihuatán, once inhabited by Maya and other indigenous groups, is set to receive significant conservation and preservation efforts funded by the U.S. State Department's Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. Officials from the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador and the Salvadoran government announced the project at the archaeological site, located in Aguilares, about 38 kilometers north of the capital, San Salvador. This third phase of work will focus on four areas within the park, which covers approximately 400 manzanas (nearly 3 square kilometers). Archaeologist Paul Amaroli, representing the National Foundation for Archaeology of El Salvador (Fundar), emphasized Cihuatán's importance, stating, "Cihuatán connects us with El Salvador's past and is a testament to the richness and complexity of the ancient civilizations that formed the human foundations of the Salvadoran territory for thousands of years." He explained that the interventions involve documentation, consolidation, and stabilization methods. Amaroli added, "Preserving the structures, their history, and significance is a shared responsibility, it is precisely what brings us together; this conservation effort began more than a decade ago with the support of the Ambassador's Fund." The U.S. Embassy reported that the third phase, running from 2026 to 2028, involves an investment of $224,586, bringing the total fund for the site's preservation to $524,586. U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Naomi Fellows highlighted the project's broader impact: "This project goes far beyond the conservation of ancient structures; it is about protecting the history and narratives that connect Salvadorans to their past and ensuring that this cultural treasure remains accessible to future generations." She further stated, "We are not only protecting these structures but also the knowledge and history they represent for generations to come. For the United States, supporting cultural heritage is a fundamental part of our broader partnership with El Salvador." Fellows also noted the potential for sites like Cihuatán to become engines of economic development by attracting global travelers. Conservation work at Cihuatán, one of the earliest studied archaeological sites, began in 2014 with U.S. government support, according to El Salvador's Minister of Culture, Raúl Castilla. Castilla, who toured the site with Fellows and Amaroli, pointed out that Cihuatán was a civilization that possessed a complete city with an organized structure.

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Cihuatán connects us with El Salvador's past and is a testament to the richness and complexity of the ancient civilizations that formed the human foundations of the Salvadoran territory for thousands of years.