Dialogues in Cuban Archaeology

130 / Valcárcel Rojas and Rodríguez Arce
7.1. Map of the Province of Holguín showing the location of the Área Arqueológica de
Banes and the Yaguajay zone
EL CHORRO DE MAÍTA
The archaeological site of El Chorro de Maíta is located at the northeastern
end of Cuba within the municipality of Banes, Province of Holguín. Part of
this municipality and part of neighboring Antilla possess large concentrations
of archaeological settlements belonging to agricultural groups within a space
that has been denominated the Banes Archaeological Area (Area Arqueológica
de Banes) (Valcárcel 2002a:26–28). The concentration of sites is organized
in clusters that are distributed in well-de¤ned zones. El Chorro de Maíta
is situated in the Yaguajay zone, a territory of approximately 55 km 2 bordered
on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, to the east by the Bay of Samá, to the
west by the Bay of Naranjo, and to the south by the border of Yaguajay Hill
(see Figure 7.1). This zone possesses the highest density of archaeological sites
per km 2 in Banes and an environment characterized by a variety of physicalgeographical
landscapes, rich soil, and a diversity of coastal fauna.