NO. 1 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA 
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some sites in Linea Vieja (central Costa Rica) were trade centers for 
jade and gold (Lothrop, 1955) . 
In summing up for the history of the area, we can take Period III 
as a point of departure, information about Periods I and II being too 
scattered to be considered representative of the area as a whole. As 
we have seen, the foundation that made the subsequent evolution pos- 
sible was already firmly established in Period III. Villages were sim- 
ple, but indicate a permanent sedentary occupation. Agriculture was 
present and probably the main source of subsistence. 
The tendencies observed in this period are more clearly manifested 
in Period IV in terms of division of labor, social stratification, and 
religious ceremonialism. The transition from Period III to Period IV 
reflects gradual growth rather than drastic change. 
On the other hand. Period V contrasts dramatically with the pre- 
ceding period, at least in technical aspects, introducing the manufac- 
ture and use of metal, jade and other semiprecious stone artifacts. 
The archeology reveals an increase in labor specialization, a probably 
regional specialization in arts and crafts, and extended trade relations. 
Social stratification is also more obvious than before. 
In Period VI the highest achievements are reached. Standardized 
and widely distributed elaborate artifacts are indicative of greater re- 
gional specializations and of a more extensive network of trade rela- 
tions. Even more characteristic of this long period (probably at the 
end of it), is the evidence of increased ceremonialism in the form of 
structures, burials, and monumental sculpture. 
Considering the main characteristics of this evolution, it will be no- 
ticed first that it is not continuous. Although slow progressive growth 
is detectable in Periods III and IV, a remarkable jump can be ob- 
served at Period V around a.d. 500, with other important qualitative 
changes during Period VI. 
It is often assumed in New World cultural development that all 
cultures had a common growth until a certain time, after which some 
pursued their development and reached summits while others stopped 
and remained stagnant. This is not what we observe in our area. Here 
the cultures seem to have developed at a different pace than in the 
high culture centers, with a slower rhythm and taking jumps of less 
qualitative importance. At first glance, it appears that the Panamanian 
cultures are precocious in relation to those of Costa Rica. During 
Period III the Scarified Guacamayo Phase as it is represented at 
Puerto Nuevo (230 B.C.) is not only much earlier than the Costa 
Rican Zoned Bichrome (a.d. 90 and 260), but looks technically much 
