Evans and 
ener ARCHEOLOGY IN BRITISH GUIANA 211 
DATA FROM OTHER INVESTIGATIONS 
With the exception of a few petroglyphs (see Osgood, 1946, figs. 3, 
6), no archeological remains have been reported by previous visitors 
to the upper Essequibo. 
ANALYSIS OF MATERIAL 
The bulk of the material from the Taruma Phase is pottery. There 
are, however, a few stone objects that are either objectively or in- 
ferentially of cultural significance. Provenience of both stone and 
ceramic materials is given in the Appendix, tables 29 and 30. 
SToNE OBJECTS 
The Taruma Phase did not make any important use of stone for 
the manufacture of tools. Only two objects show any intentional 
shaping. The majority of the items are raw materials used in the 
manufacture of manioc graters or pottery, or stones whose cultural 
significance is inferred by analogy with the beliefs of the successors 
of the Taruma, the Wai Wai. 
Aw (fig. 87, 6).—A single polished ax of fine-grained sandstone 
was collected by the Hawkins from E-1. It is stubby, almost square, 
with a flat butt and sharp, convex blade. The form is comparable to 
axes from the Rupununi Phase, but this specimen lacks the lateral 
notches typical of Rupununi Phase examples. Length is 6.2 to 6.7 
cm., width at the bit 5.4 cm., thickness at the butt 1.1 cm. 
Chopper (fig. 87, a).—A flat, rectanguloid stone with battering 
along one edge indicative of use as a chopper came from E-1. The 
material is fine-grained sandstone. Percussion shaping is limited to 
the blade edge along one of the long sides. Length is 10 cm., width 
4.5 to 5.5 cm., thickness at the back 9 to 18 mm., thickness at the 
blade 5 mm. 
Griddle or metate fragments (?).—Several fragments of flat gran- 
ite spalls show slight smoothing and polish on one surface and rough 
shaping along the edge. Thickness is 1.5, 2.0,and 3.0cm. Although 
the griddles for baking cassava bread were typically made of pottery, 
it is possible that a granite slab of suitable size was occasionally 
substituted. The smoothed or polished surface suggests the alterna- 
tive explanation that these are fragments of metates. Unfortunately 
all are too small to make a definite identification. 
Rubbing stones (fig. 87, c-e) —Hematite concretion fragments and 
small waterworn quartz pebbles show traces of abrasion on one or 
more surfaces. Those of hematite typically have the surface worn 
flat and smooth. The maximum dimensions of a rubbing surface are 
3.5 by 3.7 cm. The quartz pebbles are ovoid, 2.5 to 5.0 cm. long and 
usually polished on one rounded end. 
