<P> The region of the east was populated and then governed by the Lencas . The North zone of the Lempa High River was populated and governed by the Chortis, a Mayan people . Their culture was similar to that of their Aztec and Maya neighbors . </P> <P> "Several notable archaeological sites contain dwellings and other evidence of daily life 1400 years ago; these were found preserved beneath 6 m (20 ft) of volcanic ash ." (2) </P> <P> The first Spanish attempt to control El Señorío of Cuzcatlán, or The Lordship of Cuzcatlán, failed in 1524, when Pedro de Alvarado was forced to retreat by Pipil warriors led by King Atlacatl and Prince Atonal in the Battle of Acajuctla . In 1525, he returned and succeeded in bringing the district under control of the Audiencia of Mexico . </P> <P> Pedro de Alvarado named the area for Jesus Christ--El Salvador ("The Savior"). He was appointed its first governor, a position he held until his death in 1541 . The area was under the authority of a short - lived Audiencia of Panama from 1538 to 1543, when most of Central America was placed under a new Audiencia of Guatemala . </P>

Who lived in el salvador before the spanish