70 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 146 
The style of ceramic decoration is plastic, featuring incision, zoned 
punctation, modeling, and excision. This phase introduces a new type 
of tempering material in the form of spicules of fresh-water sponge. 
Like their predecessors, the people of the Arauquin Phase must 
have adapted themselves to the ecological conditions of the llanos. It 
is interesting to note, nevertheless, that at the time of the Conquest, 
according to the Spanish chroniclers, the inhabitants of this region 
cultivated maize, lived in large communal houses, manufactured cruci- 
bles for casting gold which were used for trading with other tribes, 
and did not possess a reserve supply of food. Spindle whorls and 
basketry impressions left on pottery indicate a knowledge of spinning 
and weaving techniques. 
The use of body painting is suggested by pottery stamps, possibly 
related also to religious observances ; similar stamps are characteristic 
of the Colombian highlands. Another clue of possible religious signifi- 
cance is the biomorphic adornos representing individuals covered 
with what look like bird masks, perhaps the regalia of a shaman. 
Except for a single secondary urn burial reported from the Atures 
region (Verneau, 1901) and not certainly associated with the Arau- 
quin Phase, there is no indication of funerary practices. The earth 
mounds, found particularly in the Apure region, suggest a level of 
population density and social organization commensurate with the 
execution of simple collective efforts. 
By A.D. 600, the Barrancas Phase at the mouth of the Orinoco 
has changed sufficiently to be given a new designation, Los Barrancos 
Phase, characterized by a decline in the elaborate earlier modeled 
style, and the substitution of incision as the dominant decorative 
technique. Los Barrancos is contemporary with the Arauquin Phase, 
from which it adopts sponge spicule temper, excised decoration, and 
pottery stamps. Primary flexed burials unaccompanied by offerings 
are associated with Los Barrancos. During this period, the Barran- 
coid tradition expands for the first time toward the southeast, where 
it is represented in British Guiana in the form of the Mabaruma Phase 
(Evans and Meggers, 1960, p. 147) . 
Ceramic Periods III and IV. — In late pre-European times, the 
mouth of the Orinoco appears to have been the recipient of influences 
from several neighboring complexes. The Guarguapo Phase, which 
succeeds Los Barrancos, shows more Arauquinoid than Barrancoid 
elements in paste, vessel shape, and decoration. Barrancoid decora- 
tive traits are not only rare, but degenerate in form (Cruxent and 
Rouse, 1958, pp. 232-233). Toward the end of the aboriginal period, 
there is a resurgence of the Barrancoid ceramic tradition in the form 
