# Rivas District

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District in Pérez Zeledón canton, San José province, Costa Rica

District in San José, Costa Rica

Rivas District Rivas Church Rivas district Rivas Rivas district location in Costa Rica Coordinates: 9°29′07″N 83°35′39″W / 9.4851959°N 83.5941563°W / 9.4851959; -83.5941563 Country Costa Rica Province San José Canton Pérez Zeledón Area • Total 310.28 km2 (119.80 sq mi) Elevation 870 m (2,850 ft) Population (2011) • Total 6,591 • Density 21.24/km2 (55.02/sq mi) Time zone UTC−06:00 Postal code 11904

**Rivas** is a [district](/source/Districts_of_Costa_Rica) of the [Pérez Zeledón](/source/P%C3%A9rez_Zeled%C3%B3n_(canton)) canton, in the [San José](/source/San_Jos%C3%A9_Province) province of [Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica).[1][2]

## Geography

Rivas has an area of 310.28 km2[3] and an elevation of 870 metres.[1]

This town lies south of a mountain chain [Cordillera de Talamanca](/source/Cordillera_de_Talamanca) result of tectonic uplift between [Cocos Plate](/source/Cocos_Plate) and [Caribbean Plate](/source/Caribbean_Plate).

The town is positioned a kilometer north of where the Buenavista River and the Chirripó Pacífico River converge to form the General River.

## Demographics

‹ The [template](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template) *[Historical populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Historical_populations)* is being [considered for merging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Templates_for_discussion/Log/2026_June_24#Template:Infobox_demographics). ›

Historical population Census Pop. ±% p.a. 1927 253 — 1950 1,547 +8.19% 1963 2,449 +3.60% 1973 4,885 +7.15% 1984 4,977 +0.17% 2000 6,531 +1.71% 2011 6,591 +0.08% 2022 8,032 +1.81% Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos[4] Centro Centroamericano de Población[5]

For the [2011 census](/source/Costa_Rica_2011_Census), Rivas had a population of 6,591 inhabitants.[6]

## Transportation

### Road transportation

The district is covered by the following road routes:

- [National Route 2](/source/National_Route_2_(Costa_Rica))

- [National Route 242](/source/National_Route_242_(Costa_Rica))

- [National Route 322](/source/National_Route_322_(Costa_Rica))

- [National Route 323](/source/National_Route_323_(Costa_Rica))

## Economy

### Tourism

This town is on the way to the [Chirripó National Park](/source/Chirrip%C3%B3_National_Park).

## Archaeology

Originally discovered in the 1980s through archaeological surveys of the region by Robert Drolet, the Rivas site is one of 15 Chiriquí Period (AD 750-1500) archaeological sites known within the river valley. Although the site is covered with agricultural plots, numerous cobble house foundations and upright [boulders](/source/Boulder) are present throughout the area indicating the presence of an archaeological site.

[Excavations](/source/Excavation_(archaeology)) at Rivas began in 1992 under the direction of [Jeffrey Quilter](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeffrey_Quilter&action=edit&redlink=1) of the [Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology](/source/Peabody_Museum_of_Archaeology_and_Ethnology), [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University). His excavations identified structures similar to those found by Drolet at the site of [Murciélago, Costa Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murci%C3%A9lago,_Costa_Rica&action=edit&redlink=1).[7]

Throughout the 6-year project at Rivas, Quilter identified several residential areas. Construction of these structures consisted of river [cobbles](/source/Cobblestone) aligned in circular patterns of various sizes, typically with adjoining rectangular patios. The smallest structures measured 10m in diameter and the largest were up to 30m in diameter. Additional architectural features including paths, causeways, plazas, and stairways were also recorded throughout the site.

It is unclear what function that these structures served within the broader context of the site as a whole. The majority of [ceramic](/source/Ceramic) [artifacts](/source/Artifact_(archaeology)) found in these area were shattered and found on the exterior of these structures. Ceramic sherds were rarely found on the interior. This suggests that many of these structures were living areas where refuse pottery was swept outside.

Chiriqui period cemeteries located near the site may have corresponded to specific habitation areas within the Rivas population. Burials in these areas had no apparent pattern with regards to their placement and were distinguished by carefully placed river cobbles within a defined area. The quality and quantity of grave goods within these burials indicates a possible status differentiation between the two cemeteries. None of the graves contained gold or [tumbaga](/source/Tumbaga) artifacts.

A separate, possibly ceremonial, area was also found at the site. Researchers originally thought that this area was a cemetery site because of the tomb-like concentrations of river cobbles. However, excavations proved that it was neither a cemetery nor a habitation area. A nearby staircase may have connected this portion of the site to the Panteón de La Reina on the overlying ridge. It was therefore concluded that this part of the site was probably an area where rituals were performed in preparation of burial on the ridge.

### Artifact assemblage

Over 600,000 ceramic pot sherds were recovered at the site of Rivas. The research team focused on diagnostic pieces, such as rims and decorated body sherds, in their collection efforts. Further examination showed that 60% of the rims and 72% of the other sherds were decorated in the [Buenos Aires Polychrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buenos_Aires_Polychrome&action=edit&redlink=1) tradition. This pottery style is generally considered to be "fiesta ware" of the Chiriquí Period in the chronology of Costa Rican art. The second-most represented ceramic style in the assemblage was classified as Red Wares composed of Sangria Red Fine and Turucaca White-On-Red styles.[7]

A total of 8,632 examples of stone artifacts were found at the Rivas site. Made primarily from andesite and basalt, all but 35 of these artifacts were chipped stone tools. The majority of these tools were classified as endscrapers and perforators. Ground stone artifacts were rarely found and consisted of one adze, 8 celts, and fractured remnants of manos and metates.

Several figurines made of solid clay and no larger than 7 cm tall were also uncovered. These figurines generally depicted women in a seated position with their legs extended and open. Often, these figures were found with the head broken off.

The excavations also discovered examples of ceramic musical instruments. One large fragmentary rattle was found in one of the cemeteries was shaped into the form of a squash blossom. A ceramic bead was encased in an open hollow of the instrument to create the desired musical affect. Two ceramic whistles were found at the site as well. One of them was in the form of a human head and was probably intended to be worn around the neck. The other whistle was in the form of a bird with folded wings and was one of the examples of animal figurines at the site.

## References

- [Costa Rica portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Costa_Rica)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-divadm_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-divadm_1-1) ["Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP"](http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=88416&nValor3=115607&param2=1&strTipM=TC&lResultado=1&strSim=simp). *Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica* (in Spanish). 19 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dta2017_2-0)** [*División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica*](https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/editorialdigital/libros/historiaygeografia/division_17.pdf) (PDF) (in Spanish). Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional. 8 March 2017. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9977-58-477-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9977-58-477-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-inecarea_3-0)** ["Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200916045223/https://www.inec.cr/anuario-estadistico/anuario-estadistico-geografia). *Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos* (in Spanish). Archived from [the original](https://www.inec.cr/anuario-estadistico/anuario-estadistico-geografia) on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos"](https://www.inec.cr/) (in Spanish).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Centro Centroamericano de Población de la Universidad de Costa Rica. ["Sistema de Consulta a Bases de Datos Estadísticas"](https://censos.ccp.ucr.ac.cr/) (in Spanish).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-censo2011_6-0)** ["Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito"](https://www.inec.cr/censos/censos-2011). *Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos* (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-quilter_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-quilter_7-1) Quilter, Jeffrey (2004). *Cobble Circles and Standing Stones: Archaeology at the Rivas Site, Costa Rica*. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87745-876-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87745-876-6).

v t e Districts of San José Province San José Carmen Merced Hospital Catedral Zapote San Francisco de Dos Ríos Uruca Mata Redonda Pavas Hatillo San Sebastián Escazú Escazú San Antonio San Rafael Desamparados Desamparados San Miguel San Juan de Dios San Rafael Arriba San Antonio Frailes Patarrá San Cristóbal Rosario Damas San Rafael Abajo Gravilias Los Guido Puriscal Santiago Mercedes Sur Barbacoas Grifo Alto San Rafael Candelarita Desamparaditos San Antonio Chires Tarrazú San Marcos San Lorenzo San Carlos Aserrí Aserrí Tarbaca Vuelta de Jorco San Gabriel Legua Monterrey Salitrillos Mora Colón Guayabo Tabarcia Piedras Negras Picagres Jaris Quitirrisí Goicoechea Guadalupe San Francisco Calle Blancos Mata de Plátano Ipís Rancho Redondo Purral Santa Ana Santa Ana Salitral Pozos Uruca Piedades Brasil Alajuelita Alajuelita San Josecito San Antonio Concepción San Felipe Vázquez de Coronado San Isidro San Rafael Dulce Nombre de Jesús Patalillo Cascajal Acosta San Ignacio Guaitil Palmichal Cangrejal Sabanillas Tibás San Juan Cinco Esquinas Anselmo Llorente León XIII Colima Moravia San Vicente San Jerónimo La Trinidad Montes de Oca San Pedro Sabanilla Mercedes San Rafael Turrubares San Pablo San Pedro San Juan de Mata San Luis Carara Dota Santa María Jardín Copey Curridabat Curridabat Granadilla Sánchez Tirrases Pérez Zeledón San Isidro de El General El General Daniel Flores Rivas San Pedro Platanares Pejibaye Cajón Barú Río Nuevo Páramo La Amistad León Cortés Castro San Pablo San Andrés Llano Bonito San Isidro Santa Cruz San Antonio

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rivas District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivas_District) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivas_District?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.