Item PL34
This Item was Sold on 6 June 2024
for $86
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 2 medium sized 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. One does not have a polished head,
indicating that it is from an earlier time period and very
uncommon. 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 nice condition with only minor
chips as shown in the photos. The approximate dimensions and weights are as
follows: Celt #2: Length = 90 mm ; Width = 54 mm ; Thickness = 18
mm ; Weight = 138 gm