Item PL36
This Item was Sold on 1 October
2024 for $104
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 very large Pre-Columbian Neolithic stone
tool (stone ax or celt) found in Central Panama. This one
was made out of Basalt. It was 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 hill over looking the
Chagres River. This artifact is a surface find. 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
artifacts between 1966 and 1968 in the American Canal Zone
prior to the transfer 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. This celt is in very nice condition as shown in the
photos. The approximate dimensions and weights are as
follows: