Item PL26
This Item was Sold on 7 June 2022
for $134
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 6 small Pre-Columbian Neolithic
stone tools (stone axes or celts) found in Central Panama.
All of these were made from Basalt or a similar hard stone
and they are in very nice condition with only a few minor
faults, such as edge chips, etc. All of these celts 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 = 55 mm ; Width = 32 mm ; Thickness = 18
mm ; Weight = 57 gm Celt #3: Length = 58 mm ; Width = 32 mm ; Thickness = 15
mm ; Weight = 40 gm Celt #4: Length = 56 mm ; Width = 32 mm ; Thickness = 15
mm ; Weight = 48 gm Celt #5: Length = 56 mm ; Width = 32 mm ; Thickness = 13
mm ; Weight = 39 gm Celt #6: Length = 53 mm ; Width = 33 mm ; Thickness = 13
mm ; Weight = 32 gm