H d 
aengen ARCHEOLOGY IN BRITISH GUIANA 5d 
A long, narrow chisel of fine schist came from N-9. It is slightly 
curved from side to side in cross section, with parallel sides tapering 
to a blade 1.0 cm. wide. The maximum width of the tool is 1.7 cm., 
existing length 3.6 cm., and thickness 5 mm. (fig. 18, ¢). 
Mano (fig. 19, a)—Although hand-size grinding stones are not 
common in the Alaka Phase, one mano of granite was found at N-11. 
The flat surfaces and slightly convex edges all have been well 
smoothed by abrasion, the surfaces showing the most wear. The form 
is rectanguloid, 7.5 cm. long, 5.0 cm. wide, and 3.5 cm. thick. 
Metate (fig. 19, b)—A metate fragment upon which the above- 
described mano may have been used also came from N-i1. Itis a thin 
piece of granite with biotite inclusions. The fragment is 10.5 cm. 
long, 7.0 cm. wide, and 2.8 cm. thick. The upper surface has been 
worn slightly concave by backward and forward grinding action. 
The depression measures 2 mm. deep. 
Miscellaneous polished tools—tIn the collections of the British 
Guiana Museum a series of artifacts is cataloged as “Waramuri Mound, 
on the Moruka River” and “Haimaracabra Shell Mound.” Both 
these names refer to the same site, but since some of the objects were 
given one designation and some the other, they probably represent 
two separate collections made at different times. The specimens on 
the whole fit the general pattern of Alaka Phase stone artifacts, with 
a majority of percussion-made tools; however intermixed among 
typical materials is a series of highly polished celts, petalloid celts, 
and notched, rectangular axes all of which seem incongruous to the 
culture complex. Since the Waramuri Mound has been occupied 
by many different aboriginal groups up to the present day and was 
the site of an early European mission that attracted Indians from 
the surrounding area, this material could be of more recent origin. 
Alternatively, it may reflect influence from an unidentified group with 
a polished stone tradition. Only careful future excavation and study 
of the whole shell midden complex of the Guianas wil] resolve the 
problem. 
Pottrery TYPE DESCRIPTIONS 
All the pottery fragments from Alaka Phase sites were found either 
on the surface or in the upper levels of the refuse middens. Although 
there are few sherds, distinctive features of paste, temper, etc., set 
them apart from pottery types of other archeological Phases in the 
Northwest District and therefore they have been classified and de- 
scribed as separate pottery types. The predominant pottery type of 
the middens clearly associated with typical Alaka Phase stone arti- 
facts is a mica and sand-tempered plain ware (Sand Creek Plain). At 
Sites N-9 and N-11, shell-tempered sherds (Wanaina Plain) occur; 
pottery with this temper was not found in any other site in the whole 
