THE ARCHEOLOGY OF TABOGA, URABi, AND 

 TABOGUILLA ISLANDS, PANAMA 



By Matthew W. and Marion Stirling 



INTRODUCTION 



The islands of Taboga, Uraba, and Taboguilla lie in the Gulf of 

 Panama some 12 miles from the Pacific entrance to the Panama 

 Canal. All three are relatively steep mountain peaks which project 

 above the waters of the gulf and, as a consequence, there is a minimum 

 of level ground on them. Uraba and Taboguilla lack fresh water 

 during the dry season, and as a result have at the present time no 

 permanent inhabitants. Uraba is small and rocky and has very little 

 cultivable ground. Taboguilla is larger and has a considerable area 

 suitable for cultivation and some springs which furnish enough water 

 for drinking purposes for all but 2 months of the year. At the present 

 time there are three or four small houses on Taboguilla which are 

 occupied temporarily by families from Taboga who have plantations 

 on the island. 



TABOGA ISLAND 



Taboga, about 2 miles in length and 1 mile in width, is the largest 

 of the three islands and the only one with permanent habitations. 

 There is an ample supply of water and a small but good harbor with 

 good anchorage. It is a very attractive place and now is famed as 

 a pleasure resort. 



The area of the Bay of Panama extending from Taboga to the Pearl 

 Islands is one of the world's finest fishing grounds, a fact no doubt 

 exploited by the aboriginal inhabitants. In fact, the name "Panama" 

 refers to the abundance of fish. Fishing now is the principal industry 

 of Taboga as it probably was in pre-Columbian times. Judging from 

 the nature of the archeological sites, the aborigines made considerable 

 use of the shellfish which occur in abundance and considerable variety. 

 The principal species used was Aequipecten circularis Sowerby, which 

 constitutes probably one-half of the total shell content of the midden 

 deposits. 



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