Ladd] PARITA AND SANTA MARIA ARCHEOLOGY, PANAMA 43 



TRENCH 8 



This trench, a test cut in the flat near Mound III, probably presents 

 the most reHable stratigraphic data of any of the trenches in the 

 excavation, since it was less disturbed by construction stages. The 

 percentage trends represented in chart 6 are more definite than others 

 from the site. According to this table, the El Hatillo type appears 

 only in the uppermost level and then with a low frequency. The 

 Parita type, Calabaza variety, and Azuero design style, all show a 

 clear tendency to increase in popularity from the lowest to the upper- 

 most levels. Macaracas and Cocle-like ceramics decrease in frequency 

 in the upper levels. The Cuipo variety, represented by a very small 

 proportion of total polychrome sherds, occurs only in the first and 

 second levels, but is slightly higher in the latter. Code polychromes. 

 Red-on-buff or Cream wares, and the Black-on-red technique all have 

 greater frequencies in the lower levels than in the upper ones, while 

 Smoked ware remains constant. The trench contained no graves 

 or caches. 



TRENCH 10; NORTH RIDGE 



The stratigraphic picture of this trench (chart 7) is a confused one 

 despite the fact that it appears to have been excavated in an area of 

 occupational refuse and should have provided a picture clearer than 

 that for most of the trenches. Discounting the lowest four levels, 

 due to paucity of polychrome sherds (the greatest number was 17 

 in Level 5) , we find that the El Hatillo type reaches its highest propor- 

 tion in Level 4, then drops somewhat and remains constant to the 

 surface. Parita Polychrome decreases from a fairly high percentage in 

 the uppermost level to a low in Level 3 and then increases in the lowest 

 statistically valid level, 4. The Calabaza variety is not represented 

 in the upper four levels. The Macaracas type, absent in the upper- 

 most level, has its greatest relative representation in Level 2 and then 

 diminishes until it disappears in Level 4. Cocle-like and the Gir6n 

 type are present in the first and third levels and absent in the second 

 and fourth. Code Polychrome has its greatest frequency in the upper- 

 most level. Thus, according to this trench. Code wares and the 

 Parita type had their greatest frequency in the latest period, while the 

 El Hatillo type was most popular in the earlier periods. These 

 conclusions, with the exception of that for the Parita type, are not 

 supported by the record in the other trenches nor by grave associations 

 thus far discovered at other sites. 



Only two find units were encountered in the trench: 

 Find 370. No polychrome. Red-buff coUarless jars, collared jars class 



"a," and a Red-buff collared jar with vertical loop handles. 

 Find 374. The Cuipo variety and the Pica-pica variety (all in dull 



finish, many in black-on-red technique) polychromes are 



