46 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 193 



associated with miniature Red-buff pedestal plates, ring- 

 based plates, collared jars class "a," straight collared jars, 

 and two miniature deep bowls. As was the case with Find 

 369, the Cuipo and Pica-pica varieties are associated in the 

 same grave, but there is no association of the Calabaza 

 variety or El Hatillo and Parita types with the Macaracas 

 type. 

 On the basis of almost all of the caches and burials as well as the 

 meager stratigraphy, the sequence suggested would be that shown in 

 chart 2 ; Macaracas type contemporaneous with the Late Code Period 

 at Sitio Conte, and the Parita and El Hatillo types possibly overlap- 

 ping somewhat but certainly continuing on later. The Calabaza 

 type with its Calabaza and Cerit6 varieties, has been left in an 

 indeterminant position due to its close affinities to the other three 

 types. Since postulations of this sort depend as much on absence of 

 association as on definite contact, and future investigation may 

 change the proposed chronological scheme, it is in order to briefly 

 recapitulate the inconsistencies already evident. 



The chronology in the first instance depends on the validity or 

 individuality of the types. If a type or variety is composed of a 

 group of core vessels which are distinct from those of another variety 

 with only a few crosscutting modes, then they can be considered valid. 

 If the number of shared modes becomes so great that sherd sorting is 

 impossible or the grouping of complete vessels too difficult, then the 

 suggested separation becomes meaningless. Some of the difficulties 

 central to the chronology proposed here stem from this kind of problem, 

 instances of which are listed below: 



1. The mere existence of the Calabaza variety, combining as 

 it does a number of modes central to the Macaracas and Parita 

 types which are assumed on other bases to be sequential rather 

 than contemporary. 



2. The presence of certain Higo (e.g., barbed feathers) and 

 Cuipo (circle and dot fiU) elements on Caimito variety vessels 

 tends to equate Parita and Macaracas types. 



3. The close similarity of Yampi variety (Parita type) ray 

 designs to those of the Pica-pica variety (Macaracas type). 



4. The number of similarities between the Macaracas type and 

 the Ortiga variety (Parita type) viz, 



(a) The vagueness of the distinction between the split- 

 square-face representation of the Pica-pica variety and the 

 bull's-eye crocodile and lyre pattern of the Ortiga variety. 



(6) The occurrence of the split-legged scroll and other 

 Ortiga elements with the claw elements of the Pica-pica 

 variety. 



