Item PL22
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 lot of 5 Pre-Columbian Neolithic stone
tools (stone axes or celts) found in Central Panama. All of
these were made from Basalt and they are in very nice
condition with only a few minor faults, such as edge chips,
etc. All were found on the South East shore of a large
island in Gatun Lake near the south end of the Gatun Locks.
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 these
artifacts were collected in the American Canal Zone prior to
when the territory was ceded back to Panama in 1999. The
approximate dimensions and weights are as follows: Celt #2: Length = 61 mm ; Width = 38 mm ; Thickness = 21
mm ; Weight = 64 gm Celt #3: Length = 60 mm ; Width = 37 mm ; Thickness = 16
mm ; Weight = 44 gm Celt #4: Length = 65 mm ; Width = 32 mm ; Thickness = 15
mm ; Weight = 48 gm Celt #5: Length = 57 mm ; Width = 31 mm ; Thickness = 12
mm ; Weight = 32 gm