Beauv.) or aspecies of ‘‘chonta’’ (Guwilielma sp.), a palm. 
Both plants have been reported as having furnished the 
raw material for artifacts recovered from Paracas. In the 
botanical literature ‘‘cafia brava’’ is reported from this 
section of the coast of Peru, whereas ‘‘chonta’’ is re- 
corded from northern Peru and Bolivia. If the plant used 
in the manufacture of the needle is Guwilielma, its pres- 
ence at Paracas may be explained by the possibility of 
its having been an item of trade in prehistoric times. 
A straight wooden stick (80/4230) of a light color had 
been placed in the folds of the mantles of Layer IV. It 
is 44.5 em. in length and has a maximum diameter of 
2.6 cm. At a distance of 3.4 cm. from the upper end of 
the stick, is a wrapping of sinew which extends for a space 
of approximately 7 cm. From this point the specimen 
tapers slightly to the lower end. The wood is partially 
decayed and has been attacked by insects. From micro- 
scopic sections, it has been identified as possibly willow. 
A baton (80/4231) was also found in this location in 
the bundle. It is 57.4 cm. long, round in section and 
from 1.9 to 2 em. in diameter. The wood is dark, heavy, 
fine-grained and hard. The entire surface appears to have 
been smoothed and polished, perhaps the result of much 
handling. This specimen has been designated a ‘‘baton”’ 
because of its convenient size for holding in the hand as 
a symbol of authority. The wood of which it is made has 
been tentatively identified as one of the Leguminosae, 
possibly Caesalpinia sp. 
Roots 
In addition to the roots of manioce (80/4198) and ji- 
quima (30/4190) described above, four other root speci- 
mens were found in the bundle. Two of these (30/4192, 
30/4198) were apparently part of the contents of the 
small basket; the other two (80/4191, 80/4195) were 
[241 J 
