Ladd] PARITA AND SANTA MARIA ARCHEOLOGY, PANAMA 209 



Finds 22-23 and Find 24, we conceivably may assume that the Plata- 

 nillo variety, with its modified gutter rim shape in Smoked ware, is 

 a diagnostic of the Early Period. If this is so, then the Find 1-5 

 and Find 21 association between Platanillo variety vessels and Red 

 Daubed strap handled jars emphasizes the Early position of the 

 Red Daubed variety. This is also true for the Red Line Patterned 

 and Modeled ware. 



The Smoked ware Sangre and Aromo varieties both are associated 

 with a Late Period Code polychrome vessel in Find 14, but in Finds 

 26 and 45 are associated with the Platanillo variety and thus may 

 have appeared in the Early Period. Pinilla Black-line-on-red had no 

 clear associations at the site and remains a chronological floater. 



Finds 44 and 47 combine a unit of Early Period types (Red Line 

 Patterned and Modeled, Smoked ware spouted jar, Red Daubed 

 strap-handled vessel) with a unit comprised of two presumably Late 

 Period vessels, the Delgado Red jars of the Azuero ceramic group. 

 It may be that the latter shapes spanned both periods. The loop- 

 handled coUarless jar is a useful simple shape which could have been 

 developed early in ceramic history and lasted throughout, but I am 

 inclined to believe that the two finds were not part of the same grave. 



SUMMARY 



He-l is a shallow village or occupational site vnih burials in the 

 occupied area. No evidence of dwellings or structures was found, 

 but the number of plain or red-slipped sherds without decorations 

 suggests a predominance of utilitarian wares over ceremonial. Agri- 

 culture is assumed to be the main subsistence activity. This assump- 

 tion is based on the relative absence of shell or a,nimal bone in the 

 midden, the inland location of the site, and the presence of metates, 

 although the latter with the relatively "expensive" design (three legs 

 and, in some cases, carved) may have had a primarily ceremonial 

 function. No manos were found. Weaving is suggested by the 

 probable spindle whorl of Find 43. 



Ceremonial practices included placing single vessels or caches of 

 two or more pottery vessels in the ground and using chamber graves 

 for burial. Bowls were inverted and used as covers for jars (Finds 

 1-5 and 45). Chambers were lined with clay or plaster (Finds 14, 

 16-17, and 18) and showed evidence of fire in connection with the 

 burials or caches (Finds 14, 16-17, 18, 19, and 44). There is no evi- 

 dence of cremation, although charcoal pieces were found in Find 19-6. 

 One example of a mass burial was present: Find 49. Here the skele- 

 tons of 32 individuals and a three-legged metate with carved decora- 

 tion were found at the base of a deep shaft (almost 4 meters deep) 

 which included a layer of boulders placed immediately over the burial . 



