Item PL21
This Item was Sold on 24 April
2022 for $58
Similar artifacts for sale are often found on the Lithic
Artifacts web page.
Historical Pricing information for this item and similar artifacts
can be found at: Historical Artifact
Prices.
This item is a set of 5 Pre-Columbian Neolithic stone
tools (stone axes or celts) found in Central Panama. All of
these celts are made from Basalt. The 4 largest celts were
found on the South East shore of a large island in Gatun
Lake near the south end of the Gatun Locks. The Zonians
called this island Navy Island, but the official name is
Guarapo Island. Before the Panama Canal was constructed,
this island was a tall hill on the banks of the Chagres
River. All of these artifacts are surface finds. As a teen
living in the town of Gatun, I visited Navy Island often to
fish and camp. The wave action from the ships leaving Gatun
Locks would wash against the steep hillside and erode the
red clay soil to expose lithic artifacts. I collected these
between 1966 and 1968. All of the artifacts were collected
in the American Canal Zone prior to when the territory was
ceded back to Panama in 1999. The smallest celt was found on
the shore of Madden Lake by George Chevalier. It is the
smallest celt I have ever seen. It is smaller than an arrow
head. The approximate dimensions are as follows Celt #2: Length = 44 mm ; Width = 30 mm ; Thickness = 16
mm ; Weight = 36 gm Celt #3: Length = 39 mm ; Width = 29 mm ; Thickness = 11
mm ; Weight = 21 gm Celt #4: Length = 41 mm ; Width = 27 mm ; Thickness = 10
mm ; Weight = 18 gm Celt #5: Length = 25 mm ; Width = 19 mm ; Thickness = 4
mm ; Weight = 3 gm