20 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 
panses (pls. 53; 54,a@). Moving southward, scattered trees or groves 
of trees occur and the terrain becomes increasingly rolling. Toward 
the east, trees are more concentrated and there is an almost equal 
division between grass and forested areas. Between the west side of 
the Kanuku Mountains and the Takutu River, the land is rolling low 
hills thickly sprinkled with trees, with intervening depressions that 
tend to be swampy. ‘The south savanna, south of the Kanuku Moun- 
tains, is relatively open and flat only in the northwest. Several moun- 
tains rise steeply from the savanna floor (pls. 55, a; 59, a). Moving 
eastward, the terrain becomes rolling, and low hills covered with bare, 
weathered, black granite outcrops and trees are characteristic. Groves 
of trees increase in area toward the south, until forest gradually re- 
places the grass. The 59th parallel marks the approximate limit of 
the savanna on the east. 
The Rupununi savanna straddles the continental watershed. Trib- 
utaries of the Rupununi River interlock with creeks flowing into the 
Takutu and Ireng Rivers, which contribute their waters to the Ama- 
zon system (fig. 2). A consequence is a marked annual variation 
in water level, and hence in the navigability of rivers. In the wet 
season, river cargo boats can reach a point almost midway into the 
south savanna. In the dry season, a small canoe cannot travel above 
Annai, at the base of the Pakaraima Mountains. Correspondingly, 
creeks and waterholes overflowing in the rainy season become stagnant 
or dry in November and December. 
The vegetation of the savanna offers little in the way of subsistence 
resources. Animal life is difficult to assess now that cattle have been 
introduced, but it is probable that deer were once more common. 
Several small shallow lakes contain arapaima (Suds gigas or Ara- 
paima gigas) and other fish, as well as cayman. The forest provided 
the major hunting and gathering as well as the only possibility for 
agricultural exploitation in aboriginal times. Even today, savanna- 
dwelling Indians have their fields in the forests and spend part of 
the year living at their gardens to plant and harvest their crops. 
CONCLUSION 
Although the coastal, forest, and savanna zones of British Guiana 
differ strikingly in superficial features, their potentialities for human 
exploitation are generally similar. None has outstanding soil fer- 
tility? or other natural resources. All offer a variety of subsistence 
possibilities, but all of them are time consuming in their realization. 
The geographical setting is consequently highly significant in explain- 
ing the archeological picture and reference will be made to its role 
in the conclusion to this report. 
1 For detailed analysis of soils and agricultural potential, see Duthie, 1939 a and 1939 b, 
and Evans, 1939. More specific data on vegetation can be obtained from Fanshawe, 1952, 
