This item is a pair of Pre-Columbian Neolithic stone tools (stone ax or celt) found in Central Panama. Both were made out of a very dense Metamorphic stone that resembles Basalt, but with a large number of small lighter colored stones embedded within the matrix. I have never seen stones like this on the Atlantic side of the Canal Zone, but I have seen stones similar to this in Western Panama, so this might be evidence of migration or trade within Central America? Both celts 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 hill over looking the Chagres River. These artifacts are 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 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.

These celts are in very nice condition as shown in the photos. The larger celt has a small chip on one side of the narrow end as shown in the photo. Both celts have minor flaws along the edges as is found on most celts from this region. Both of these celts were made out of the most attractive stone material from a collection of more than 50 celts.

The approximate dimensions and weights are as follows: