Two Pre-Columbian Neolithic Celts from Central Panama

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 #1: Length = 100 mm ; Width = 40 mm ; Thickness = 20 mm ; Weight = 118 gm

Celt #2: Length = 90 mm ; Width = 54 mm ; Thickness = 18 mm ; Weight = 138 gm



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