Espíritus encontrados. Desintegración, adaptación y pervivencia del sistema de creencias indígena en la Nicaragua del siglo XVI

Abstract

In this article the evolution of the religious believes of the indigenous people from the Greater Nicoya archaeological and cultural subarea during the XVIth century is analysed. By means of the study of the colonial sources and the archaeological data, it is concluded that the «spiritual conquest» of these peoples remained unfinished. Certain religious aspects survived, whereas other new elements associated with the traditional religion were created from a complex syncretic system.