Editing History of El Salvador (section)

==Pre-Columbian history==
{{Further|Cuzcatlan}}
{{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=500|caption_align=center|image1=Centroamerica prehispanica siglo XVI.svg|caption1=El Salvador and Central America before the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas]]|image2=Templo tazumal.jpg|caption2=[[Tazumal]] ruins in Santa Ana, El Salvador}}
Before the [[Spanish conquest of El Salvador|Spanish conquest]], the area that is known as El Salvador was composed of three indigenous states and several principalities. In central El Salvador were the indigenous inhabitants, the [[Pipil people|Pipils]], or the Pipiles, a tribe of nomadic [[Nahuas|Nahua people]] that were settled there for a long time. The Pipil strongly resisted Spanish efforts to extend their dominion southward.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/el-salvador/4.htm|title=El Salvador - Spanish Conquest and Colonization|website=countrystudies.us}}</ref>

The eastern region was populated and governed by the [[Lenca|Lenca people]], while the northern zone of the [[Lempa River]] was populated and governed by the [[Chʼortiʼ people|Chʼortiʼ]], a [[Maya peoples|Mayan people]]. Their culture was similar to that of their [[Aztecs]] and [[Maya civilization|Maya]] neighbors.

Several archaeological sites dating to 1400 years ago have been discovered preserved beneath 6&nbsp;m (20&nbsp;ft) of volcanic ash.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/geoghist/histories/history/hiscountries/e/elsalvador.html|title=El Salvador|access-date=2004-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030720224002/http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/GeogHist/histories/history/hiscountries/E/elsalvador.html|archive-date=2003-07-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>