Pre-Columbian history thumb|An ancient petroglyph on Ometepe Island Paleo-Indians first inhabited what is now known as Nicaragua as far back as 12,000 BCE. In later pre-Columbian times, Nicaragua's indigenous people were part of the Intermediate Area, between the Mesoamerican and Andean cultural regions, and within the influence of the Isthmo-Colombian Area. Nicaragua's central region and its Caribbean coast were inhabited by Macro-Chibchan language ethnic groups such as the Miskito, Rama, Mayangna, and Matagalpas. They had coalesced in Central America and migrated both to and from present-day northern Colombia and nearby areas.Gloria Helena Rey, "The Chibcha Culture – Forgotten, But Still Alive" , Colombia, Inter Press Service (IPS) News, 30 Nov 2007, accessed 9 Nov 2010 Their food came primarily from hunting and gathering, but also fishing and slash-and-burn agriculture.
Pre-Columbian history thumb|An ancient petroglyph on Ometepe Island Paleo-Indians first inhabited what is now known as Nicaragua as far back as 12,000 BCE In later pre-Columbian times, Nicaragua's indigenous people were part of the Intermediate Area, between the Mesoamerican and Andean cultural regions, and within the influence of the Isthmo-Colombian Area. Nicaragua's central region and its Caribbean coast were inhabited by Macro-Chibchan language ethnic groups such as the Miskito, Rama, Mayangna, and Matagalpas. They had coalesced in Central America and migrated both to and from present-day northern Colombia and nearby areas.Gloria Helena Rey, "The Chibcha Culture – Forgotten, But Still Alive" , Colombia, Inter Press Service (IPS) News, 30 Nov 2007 accessed 9 Nov 2010 Their food came primarily from hunting and gathering, but also fishing and slash-and-burn agriculture.