198 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 177 
Cut 2, 1 by 1 meter, was placed on the highest part of the hill, near 
the center of the site and about 20 meters northwest of Cut 1. The 
soil color was slightly lighter than that in the vicinity of Cut 1, but 
otherwise characteristics were similar. Sherds were present in the 
first level, which also yielded an iron nail (probably dating from the 
Wai Wai field) and a quartz crystal. In level 8-16 cm. sherds were 
much sparser than in Cut 1 and small concretions were very abundant. 
Below 16 cm. the gravel became more compact and sterile. 
E-10: MAWIKA-TO 
The Wai Wai village of Mawika, on the left bank of the Essequibo, 
occupies the site of a former Taruma village (fig. 79). Sherds were 
visible on the bare surface of the clearing around the Wai Wai house, 
where the absence of vegetation encouraged erosion. The limits of 
the former clearing were not ascertainable because of the dense 
secondary growth resulting from more recent Wai Wai clearing of 
the same area. However, tests produced sherds from an area con- 
siderably larger than that used by the Wai Wai village, correspond- 
ing to the western half of a knoll 5 meters above the December 
level of the river. Dimensions of the site are 35 by 45 meters, 
with the major sherd concentration near the center of the area or 
just east of the Wai Wai house. The bank rises gradually so that 
the site is 30 meters from the river’s edge at low water. 
A i- by 1-meter strata cut was placed at the northeast edge of the 
modern clearing, near the center of the Taruma Phase site. Excava- 
tion was in 8-cm. levels. The soil was brownish-gray, sandy clay. 
In addition to sherds, level 0-8 cm. contained charred palm nuts 
and fragments of charcoal, which probably relate to the Wai Wai 
occupation. In level 8-16 cm., soil conditions continued the same 
and sherds were large and abundant. In level 16-24 cm., the soil 
became more compact and contained scattered lateritic concretions, 
which had been absent from the upper levels. Sherds were less 
numerous. Sterile, compact clay appeared at 24 cm., but was not 
distinguishable in color from the occupation layer. The quantity 
of sherds from this excavation in the Wai Wai side yard caused 
considerable amazement among the Indians, who exclaimed, “Look at 
what we have been walking over all this time and didn’t know it!” 
E-11: KUKWA MUTUTO 
On the left bank, 40 minutes’ paddling upstream from E-10 (fig. 
79), the land rises sharply to a height of 6 meters above the Decem- 
ber waterline. The level surface was covered with short grass and 
scattered bushes over a strip 25 meters wide that came down to the 
edge of the bank. Fallen rafter poles and posts marked the former 
