PREFACE 



This report is based on an analysis of the ceramic remains from five 

 prehistoric sites located near the Santa Maria and Parita Rivers of 

 western Panama. These sites, along with others, were excavated by 

 two expeditions in 1948 and 1952: The first, sponsored jointly by the 

 Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society, was 

 led by Matthew W. Stirling, then director of the Bm-eau of American 

 Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Stirling was assisted by 

 Gordon R. WiUey. Mrs. Stirling and Richard H. Stewart, photog- 

 rapher for the National Geographic Society, completed the party. 

 Among the sites excavated during this season were He-4 (El Hatillo), 

 the largest site treated in the report, He-1 (Sixto Pinilla), and He-2 

 (Leopoldo Arosemena). The second expedition, in 1952, sponsored 

 by the Peabody Museum of Harvard University and directed by 

 Gordon R. Wniey, excavated, among others, the Co-2 (Giron) and 

 He-8 (Delgado) sites. Dr. Willey was assisted by Charles R. McGim- 

 sey and James N. East. Although these and other excavations con- 

 ducted by the two expeditions have been discussed in earlier publica- 

 tions,^ some, like the Monagrillo site (He-5) in detail, none of these 

 five has been reported thoroughly in print. ^ 



In aclaiowledging the contributions of others, my primary thanks 

 go to Dr. Willey. This report was prepared under his patient 

 guidance, and his advice and support were always available and often 

 utilized. Dr. Samuel K. Lothrop not only offered full use of his 

 excellent library, but provided warm hospitality and much helpful 

 advice as well as fruitful contacts with members of the Archaeological 

 Society of Panama. The support and cooperation of Dr. Clifford 

 Evans, of the Smithsonian Institution, are gratefully acknowledged, 

 as is the cooperation of Dr. J. O. Brew, director of the Peabody 

 Museum at Harvard. I also wish to thank Dr. H. E. D. Pollock and 

 Dr. Stephen Williams, who, in addition to Dr. Willey, kindly read the 

 report and contributed helpful suggestions. 



Preparation of the report would have been impossible without the 

 aid of funds provided by grants from Harvard University and the 

 American Philosophical Society. In some cases, photographs were 



» See Stirling, 1949, 1950; WOley, 1951; Willey, and McGimsey, 1952, 1954; and Willey and Stoddard, 1954. 



* Since this report was written, the results of subsequent El Hatillo site excavations by Dade, Mitchell, 

 Acker, and other members of the Archaeological Society of Panama, have been published In the Panama 

 Archaeologist, vol. 4, No. 1, 1961. 



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