Five Pre-Columbian Neolithic Celts from Central Panama

Item PL23  

This Item was Sold on 24 April 2022 for $60


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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 or a si,ilar hard stone and they are in very nice condition with only a few minor faults, such as edge chips, etc. The white celt is especially nice. I have never seen this material near Gatun. Celt #4 in the list below has a truncated end. This could be an unintended fracture, but it fits well in the hand with the index finger on the flat surface opposite the cutting blade. 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 #1: Length = 75 mm ; Width = 53 mm ; Thickness = 21 mm ; Weight = 138 gm

Celt #2: Length = 55 mm ; Width = 55 mm ; Thickness = 25 mm ; Weight = 129 gm

Celt #3: Length = 70 mm ; Width = 45 mm ; Thickness = 25 mm ; Weight = 98 gm

Celt #4: Length = 65 mm ; Width = 32 mm ; Thickness = 17 mm ; Weight = 105 gm

Celt #5: Length = 73 mm ; Width = 29 mm ; Thickness = 18 mm ; Weight = 53 gm



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