Item PL29
This Item was Sold on 25 September
2022 for $59
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 3 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 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 = 70 mm ; Width = 42 mm ; Thickness = 11
mm ; Weight = 50 gm Celt #3: Length = 64 mm ; Width = 34 mm ; Thickness = 13
mm ; Weight = 42 gm