Abrigo de Aguadulce

Folder Type:
Archaeology Site
Primary Title:
Abrigo de Aguadulce
Alternate Title: Abbreviation
AA
Summary Description:
The Aguadulce Shelter (AG-13) is a Precolumbian site located in Cocle Province, Panama. Although the cultural deposits are quite shallow, they extend back in time to the Paleoindian period and include Preceramic, Early Ceramic, Late Ceramic and Historic materials. The site is best known in the archaeological literature for the large amount of data it provided about early agriculture and also hunting, fishing and mollusc gathering. It was initially found and tested with a 1 x 1m test pit by Anthony J. Ranere and Richard S. McCarty in 1973. They found stratified Preceramic deposits overlain by sherds of the Monagrillo complex, the oldest yet known from Panama. This was the first time that this pottery had been documented inland although today the shelter is only 17 km from the active marine shore. This find invited a larger test-excavation, which was completed in 1975. In 1997, Ranere returned to the site in the company of Dolores R. Piperno. Their excavations fine-tuned stratigraphy, identifying four 'zones'. The deepest (Zone D) was dated from about 11,000 to 7000 radiocarbon years BP. It has no pottery. Although no formal stone tools were recovered, the presence of chalcedony flakes from bifacial reduction are consistent with the radiocarbon age since this preparation technique had disappeared in Panama by 7000 BP. Zone C was assigned to the period 7000-5000 BP. It did not contain evidence for bifacial tool preparation but did produce milling stones known as "edge-ground cobbles". Zone B was marked by the appearance of Monagrillo pottery and was cross-dated by reference to this ware, radiocarbon-dated at other nearby sites to 5000-3000 BP. A total of 18 edge-ground cobbles and one boulder milling stone base were analyzed. Of these, 12 contained starch residue. The following cultigen taxa were identified from starch and/or phytoliths: squash (Cucurbita moschata), lerén (Callathea allouia), arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) by ca. 8600 cal BP; maize (Zea mays) by 7920-7750 cal BP); manioc or cassava (Manihot esculenta) by 6910 ± 60 BP (7740–7640 cal BP), and ñampí yam (cf Dioscorea trifida) by ca. 5700 cal BP. Thus the Aguadulce Shelter cultural sediments show that these cultigens were under domestication in this part of Panama before the introduction of pottery.The vertebrate faunal remains from Preceramic and Early Ceramic strata point to the hunting of terrestrial taxa, such as white-tailed deer, pacas and rabbits, fishing in mangrove-estuaries and/ or tidal rivers and in freshwater, and the gathering of sub-tidal marine molluscs, two genera of turtles and small animals such as frogs.
Identifier: Site ID
AG-13
Time Period: Zone D Time Period
11,000 to 7000 radiocarbon years BP Time Period Note: It has no pottery. Although no formal stone tools were recovered, the presence of chalcedony flakes from bifacial reduction are consistent with the radiocarbon age since this preparation technique had disappeared in Panama by 7000 BP
Time Period: Zone C Time Period
7000-5000 BP Time Period Note: Zone C was assigned to the period 7000-5000 BP. It did not contain evidence for bifacial tool preparation but did produce milling stones known as "edge-ground cobbles".
Time Period: Zone B Time Period
5000-3000 BP Time Period Note: Zone B was marked by the appearance of Monagrillo pottery and was cross-dated by reference to this ware, radiocarbon-dated at other nearby sites to 5000-3000 BP.
Place: Site Location
Panama: Cocle Province Place Time Period: Precolumbian
PIDTypeTitleMetadataURL
si_1020Aguadulce Shelter for pid si_1020Aguadulce Shelter
TitleInfo/title
Aguadulce Shelter
Abstract
Aguadulce Shelter (AG-13) looking towards the south.
OriginInfo/dateCaptured
1975
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si_1025Aguadulce aerial view for pid si_1025Aguadulce aerial view
TitleInfo/title
Aguadulce aerial view
Abstract
Aguadulce Shelter (AG-13). Aerial view showing the shelter's location with regard to the Inter-American highway.
Location/physicalLocation
Panama
Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation
Cocle
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si_1039AG-13 test pit for pid si_1039AG-13 test pit
TitleInfo/title
AG-13 test pit
Abstract
Aguadulce Shelter (AG-13), Richard McCarthy completing test pit.
OriginInfo/dateCaptured
1975
Location/physicalLocation
Panama
Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation
Cocle
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si_2754933AA_s_0001.jp2 for pid si_2754933AA_s_0001.jp2
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AA_s_0001.jp2
Identifier
AA_s_0001.jp2
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si_2754934AA_s_0004.jp2 for pid si_2754934AA_s_0004.jp2
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AA_s_0004.jp2
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AA_s_0004.jp2
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si_2754935AA_s_0005.jp2 for pid si_2754935AA_s_0005.jp2
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AA_s_0005.jp2
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AA_s_0005.jp2
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si_2754936AA_s_0007.jp2 for pid si_2754936AA_s_0007.jp2
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AA_s_0007.jp2
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AA_s_0007.jp2
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si_2754937AA_s_0008.jp2 for pid si_2754937AA_s_0008.jp2
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AA_s_0008.jp2
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AA_s_0008.jp2
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si_2754938AA_s_0009.jp2 for pid si_2754938AA_s_0009.jp2
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AA_s_0009.jp2
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AA_s_0009.jp2
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si_2754939AA_s_0011.jp2 for pid si_2754939AA_s_0011.jp2
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AA_s_0011.jp2
Identifier
AA_s_0011.jp2
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si_2754940AA_s_0012.jp2 for pid si_2754940AA_s_0012.jp2
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AA_s_0012.jp2
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AA_s_0012.jp2
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si_2754941AA_s_0013.jp2 for pid si_2754941AA_s_0013.jp2
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AA_s_0013.jp2
Identifier
AA_s_0013.jp2
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si_2754942AA_s_0014.jp2 for pid si_2754942AA_s_0014.jp2
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AA_s_0014.jp2
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AA_s_0014.jp2
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si_2754943AA_s_0015.jp2 for pid si_2754943AA_s_0015.jp2
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AA_s_0015.jp2
Identifier
AA_s_0015.jp2
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si_2754944AA_s_0017.jp2 for pid si_2754944AA_s_0017.jp2
TitleInfo/title
AA_s_0017.jp2
Identifier
AA_s_0017.jp2
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si_2754945Aguadulce test pit for pid si_2754945Aguadulce test pit
TitleInfo/title
Aguadulce test pit
Abstract
Aguadulce Shelter, excavation of test pit. Richard McCarthy (left), Anthony Ranere (center), Olga Linares (right).
Identifier
AA_s_0018.jp2
OriginInfo/dateCaptured
1975
Location/physicalLocation
Panama
Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation
Cocle Province
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si_2754946Aguadulce test pit for pid si_2754946Aguadulce test pit
TitleInfo/title
Aguadulce test pit
Abstract
Aguadulce Shelter archaeological site, excavation of test pit.
Identifier
AA_s_0019.jp2
OriginInfo/dateCaptured
1998
Location/physicalLocation
Panama
Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation
Cocle Province
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si_2754947Aguadulce Shelter for pid si_2754947Aguadulce Shelter
TitleInfo/title
Aguadulce Shelter
Abstract
Aguadulce Shelter archaeological site, cleared of vegetation.
Identifier
AA_s_0020.jp2
OriginInfo/dateCaptured
1998
Location/physicalLocation
Panama
Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation
Cocle Province
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si_2754948Test Excavations for pid si_2754948Test Excavations
TitleInfo/title
Test Excavations
Abstract
Test excavations in the Aguadulce Shelter archaeological site. Olga Linares (left), Richard McCarthy (right), Anthony J. Ranere (inside test pit).
Identifier
AA_s_0021.jp2
OriginInfo/dateCaptured
1975
Location/physicalLocation
Panama
Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation
Cocle Province
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si_2773787Aguadulce Shelter view for pid si_2773787Aguadulce Shelter view
TitleInfo/title
Aguadulce Shelter view
Abstract
View from the air of the Aguadulce Shelter archaeological site, alongside the Carretera Interamericana.
OriginInfo/dateCaptured
1975
Location/physicalLocation
Panama
Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation
Cocle Province
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