Item PL33
This Item was Sold on 1 October
2024 for $60
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 4 medium large Pre-Columbian
Neolithic stone tools (stone axes or celts) found in Central
Panama. All of these were made out of Basalt or a similar
dense stone material. They 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 over
looking 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. I brought several of my celts to U.C. Berkeley in 1969
for identification. I was told that they are similar to
artifacts in the U.C. Berkeley collection that were dated
between 500 B.C. and 600 A.D. These celts are in very good condition with some damage
to the cutting edges as shown in the photos. The approximate dimensions and weights are as
follows: Celt #2: Length = 123 mm ; Width = 54 mm ; Thickness = 27
mm ; Weight = 214 gm Celt #3: Length = 113 mm ; Width = 60 mm ; Thickness = 28
mm ; Weight = 210 gm Celt #4: Length = 108 mm ; Width = 48 mm ; Thickness = 24
mm ; Weight = 192 gm