La-Mula-Sarigua

Folder Type:

Archaeology Site

Primary Title:

La-Mula-Sarigua

Alternate Title: Abbreviation

PR-14

Summary Description:

The site of La Mula-Sarigua is located on the southern edge of Parita Bay in central Pacific Panama, just north of the current outlet of the River Parita. It lies in a coastal zone that was formerly comprised an “albina”, or high tidal salt flat but was recently given over to tanks for commercial shrimp breeding. The area has achieved popular notoriety as Panama’s only desert—“el Desierto de Sarigua”. This is an imprecise and confusing term. Wooded vegetation along the marine edge of Parita Bay is, indeed, xerophilic due to the 1000 mm average annual rainfall and the intense 4-5 month dry season (December-April), coupled with strong adiabatic northerly trade winds. It is was not desert conditions per se, but, rather, the persistent encroachment of wind-blown and salt-laden sediments during the dry season that impacted the coastal vegetation. Now that the flats have been converted to shrimp tanks, salty eolian sediments are no longer deposited on the dry forest belt and further inland. The vegetation has responded accordingly. La Mula-Sarigua is considerably more vegetated in 2016 than it was in 1982-3 when Temple University (Philadelphia) archaeologist, Patricia Hansell, dedicated the dry season of 1983 to survey and excavation. The bulk of cultural remains lies along a ridge composed of probably Pleistocene (perhaps Last Interglacial) alluvial sediments where cash crops have been cultivated off and on over the years and where cattle are often put to graze. The first archaeologists to conduct research at La Mula-Sarigua were Gordon Willey and Charles R. McGimsey III in the early 1950s, during a walking survey along the shores of Parita Bay south of the Santa María River. They located several Pre-Columbian sites including Early Ceramic A ‘Monagrillo’ (He-5), located further south across the Parita River. In the Sarigua albina, they identified two archaeological localities: 1) Sarigua (He-16), and 2) La Mula (He-30). At the Sarigua locality, they reported a shell midden with plastically decorated pottery that entered the literature as the “Sarigua Complex.” Willey and McGimsey intuitively judged this ware to be more recent than the Monagrillo ceramic complex, which had not been radiometrically dated at that time, but was later determined to belong to the period 4500-3200 calibrated years BP). The La Mula site, designated He-30, was described as comprising shallow piles of shell with pottery, which covered an area of 0.5 km2 and thus had the appearance of a village. The ceramic sample contained some black-on-red pottery, for which the typological term ‘La Mula’ was used. During transect surveys conducted by the NSF-funded ‘Proyecto Santa María’ in 1982, the Sarigua area was visited once again by archaeologists. They made a walking reconnaissance, a 5x5 m surface pick-up, and three 1m2 test pits. They determined that 1) Pre-Columbian materials minimally covered 65 ha, 2) most of the site’s surface had been deflated, leaving clusters of sherds, shell, bone and stone tools and debris, 3) stratified deposits as much as 0.5 m in depth were available for testing, 4) one radiocarbon date from a test cut, and much of the pottery, belonged to the first millennium BC. These results attracted Patricia Hansell, then a doctoral candidate in the Department of Anthropology at Temple University, Philadelphia. In 1983, Hansell and Proyecto Santa María assistants ran a transect survey across the site, Transects were 100 m apart and sampling stations were placed every 25 m. The average length of the sampling transects was 800 m. Five surface features in the eroded sector were selected for intensive investigation. A total pick-up with quadrats was implemented, and diagnostic artifacts were mapped in situ. The fifth feature identified was a prehistoric quarry and workshop for the manufacture of bifacial, but unfluted projectile points. In 1988, Anthony J. Ranere went to La Mula-Sarigua to check on an area where agate flakes had been found in earlier surveys. He found considerable numbers of mostly agate, and some jasper, stone tools and debris, including Clovis fluted points, scrapers, and other tools. A test excavation made at the edge of a hillock where agate flakes were clustered did not reveal in situ deposits. Rather, the Clovis materials were found under about 1 meter of eolian saline deposits, lying on a former eroded and deflated surface. Subsequent typological-technological analysis of these tools indicated that the workshop dated to early Clovis times. In the 1960s, Florida State University archaeologist, Donald Crusoe, found a hearth in the Sarigua albina unassociated with cultural materials. The date of 11,300 ± 250 BP a piece of charcoal in the hearth is in line with estimates elsewhere for the radiocarbon age of early Clovis. Currently, six phases of human occupation have been identified at La Mula-Sarigua. Each phase corresponds to a particular stage in the complex physical evolution of the Sarigua albina and associated landforms. 1. Paleoindian - ca 13,000 cal BP Fluted Clovis point quarry-workshop 2. Early Preceramic - ca 10,000 cal BP Workshop for bifacial points with lateral tangs and lacking flutes 3. Early Ceramic A, Monagrillo – 5500-3200 ca BP Small clusters of pottery and edge-gound cobbles 4. Middle Ceramic A, Initial La Mula - 2500-2200 cal BP A small refuse dumps with shell 5. Middle Ceramic B, La Mula – 2200-1750 cal BP Multiple artifacts representing a village, which covers 64 ha 6. Late Ceramic B, C and D - 900-500 cal BP Salt preparation activities

Identifier: Site Identifier

PR-14

PID	Type	Title	Metadata	URL
si_2754657		PR-14 shell-bearing midden	TitleInfo/title PR-14 shell-bearing midden Abstract Excavation of shell-bearing midden 242S-417E Identifier MS_s_0001.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983	Download
si_2754658		PR-14 shell-bearing midden	TitleInfo/title PR-14 shell-bearing midden Abstract Completion of excavation of shell-bearing midden 242S-417E. Identifier MS_s_0002.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983	Download
si_2754659		PR-14 Central stone quarry	TitleInfo/title PR-14 Central stone quarry Abstract Planning surface collection quadrats. In photo, left to right: Pat Hansell, Tony Ranere, Aureliano Vaencia, Victor Acuna, unknown. Identifier MS_s_0003.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983	Download
si_2754660		PR-14 NW quadrat	TitleInfo/title PR-14 NW quadrat Abstract Excavation of NW quadrat of shell-bearing midden 242S-417E. Identifier MS_s_0004.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983	Download
si_2754661		La Mula-Sarigua soundings	TitleInfo/title La Mula-Sarigua soundings Abstract Digging systematic sub-surface soundings. Identifier MS_s_0005.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983	Download
si_2754662		La Mula-Sarigua, view towards North-east	TitleInfo/title La Mula-Sarigua, view towards North-east Abstract high tidal flats and Rhizophora mangroves in distance. In photo: Ana Catalina Cooke Tapia and Yara Nagakane. Shell-bearing midden visible beyond them Identifier MS_s_0006.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1992	Download
si_2754663		La Mula-Sarigua view towards North-east.	TitleInfo/title La Mula-Sarigua view towards North-east. Abstract Typical xeropyhtic coastal vegetation.In photo: Ana Catalina Cooke Tapia and Yara Nagakane. Shell-bearing midden visible beyond them Identifier MS_s_0007.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1992	Download
si_2754664		PR-14 NW quadrat	TitleInfo/title PR-14 NW quadrat Abstract Excavation of NW quadrat of shell-bearing midden 242S-417E Identifier MS_s_0008.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983	Download
si_2754665		La Mula-Sarigua, PR-14	TitleInfo/title La Mula-Sarigua, PR-14 Abstract Excavation of shell-bearing midden (Cat. 2000-2008). Richard Cooke in photo. Identifier MS_s_0009.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1986	Download
si_2754666		La Mula-Sarigua view towards North-east	TitleInfo/title La Mula-Sarigua view towards North-east Abstract In photo: Ana Catalina Cooke Tapia and Yara Nagakane. Shell-bearing midden visible beyond them Identifier MS_s_0010.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1992	Download
si_2754667		Parque Nacional Sarigua 2	TitleInfo/title Parque Nacional Sarigua 2 Abstract Typical xeropyhtic coastal vegetation. In photo: Ana Catalina Cooke Tapia and Yara Nagakane. Identifier MS_s_0011.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1992	Download
si_2754668		Parque Nacional Sarigua	TitleInfo/title Parque Nacional Sarigua Abstract Visitor's Centre of the Parque Nacional Sarigua Identifier MS_s_0012.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1992	Download
si_2754834		La Mula Sarigua termination of the excavation	TitleInfo/title La Mula Sarigua termination of the excavation Abstract Termination of the excavation of a basin-like feature full of human dietary refuse, mostly marine shells and animal bone. Radiocarbon dates from two shell samples indicate a likely age between 650 and 320 calibrated years BCE. The feature was assigned the coordinates 242S-417E by the excavator, Patricia Hansell. Identifier MS_s_0014.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera Province	Download
si_2754835		La Mula Sarigua basin feature	TitleInfo/title La Mula Sarigua basin feature Abstract Doris Weiland excavates a basin-like feature full of human dietary refuse, mostly marine shells and animal bone. Radiocarbon dates from two shell samples indicate a likely age between 650 and 320 calibrated years BCE. The feature was assigned the coordinates 242S-417E by the excavator, Patricia Hansell. Identifier MS_s_0015.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera Province	Download
si_2754836		La Mula Sarigua excavation	TitleInfo/title La Mula Sarigua excavation Abstract Excavation of a basin-like feature full of human dietary refuse, mostly marine shells and animal bone. Radiocarbon dates from two shell samples indicate a likely age between 650 and 320 calibrated years BCE. The feature was assigned the coordinates 242S-417E by the excavator, Patricia Hansell. Identifier MS_s_0016.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera Province	Download
si_2754837		Searching for Paleondin flajes and tools	TitleInfo/title Searching for Paleondin flajes and tools Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. People search por exposed Paleoindian flakes and tools lying on the erored bedrockalongside the test excavationt made into <2000 yr. old wind-blown sediments from the salt flats nearby. Identifier MS_s_0017.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754838		Searching Paleondian flakes	TitleInfo/title Searching Paleondian flakes Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. People search por exposed Paleoindian flakes and tools lying on the erored bedrockalongside the test excavationt made into <2000 yr. old wind-blown sediments from the salt flats nearby. Identifier MS_s_0018.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754839		Working at La Mula-West	TitleInfo/title Working at La Mula-West Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. Test cut made into <2000 yr. old wind-blown sediments from the salt flats nearby. Quintero and Ranere peel down the sediments in search of Paleoindian tools and flakes lying on an anciently deflated surface. Diomedes Quintero (left), Anthony J. Ranere (right). Identifier MS_s_0019.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754840		Clovis Site La Mula-West	TitleInfo/title Clovis Site La Mula-West Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. Test cut made into <2000 yr. old wind-blown sediments from the salt flats nearby. Ranere peels down the sediments in search of Paleoindian tools and flakes lying on an anciently deflated surface. Identifier MS_s_0020.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754841		Measuring La Mula-West	TitleInfo/title Measuring La Mula-West Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. Measuring in Paleoindian-like material from the deflated albina surface alongside the test excavation. Aureliano Valencia (holding the range pole). Identifier MS_s_0021.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754842		La Mula-West wind-blown sediments	TitleInfo/title La Mula-West wind-blown sediments Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. Test cut made into an accumulation of <2000 yr. old wind-blown sediments from the salt flats nearby. Identifier MS_s_0022.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754843		La Mula-West eroded surface	TitleInfo/title La Mula-West eroded surface Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. Showing the eroded surface in front of a black of preserved sediments that accumulated over the Paleoindian surface due to wind-deposition of salty sediments from the high tidal flats. Identifier MS_s_0023.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754844		La Mula-West stone flakes	TitleInfo/title La Mula-West stone flakes Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. Anthony Ranere searches for stone flakes found in a small test cut. Identifier MS_s_0024.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754845		La Mula-West test cut	TitleInfo/title La Mula-West test cut Abstract La Mula-West, a Clovis age Paleoindian quarry workshop in central Panama. Anthony Ranere measures in flakes found in a small test cut. Identifier MS_s_0025.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754847		La Mula-Central	TitleInfo/title La Mula-Central Abstract La Mula-Central, a Preceramic lithic quarry/workshop found on a large bank of chalcedony obbles in the albina (high tidal flats). Antony Ranere maps features with a theodolite. Tools found here include non-fluted chalcedony prpojectile points including stemmed and finely serrated examples. Identifier MS_s_0027.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754848		La Mula-West test	TitleInfo/title La Mula-West test Abstract Test excavation at La Mula-West, a Clovis-age quarry-workshop in central Panama (Parita Bay). Ranere scrapes sediments down to the thin (5 m) layer where Paleo-Indian stone artifacts were found on an anciently disturbed surface. Identifier MS_s_0028.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754849		La Mula-West test	TitleInfo/title La Mula-West test Abstract Test excavation at La Mula-West, a Clovis-age quarry-workshop in central Panama (Parita Bay). Antony Ranere scrapes sediments down to the thin (5 m) layer where Paleo-Indian stone artifacts were found on an anciently disturbed surface. Identifier MS_s_0029.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754850		Sarigua	TitleInfo/title Sarigua Abstract La Mula Sarigua site Identifier MS_s_0030.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988	Download
si_2754851		Monte Lirio collecting	TitleInfo/title Monte Lirio collecting Abstract Surface collecting at Monte Lirio. A small scatter of stone flakes includes several bifacial thinning flakes in chalcedony. Kathy Myiint-Hpu (left), Aureliano Valencia (right). Identifier MS_s_0031.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1990 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation Penonome	Download
si_2754852		La Mula-West	TitleInfo/title La Mula-West Abstract Test excavation dug during the dry season at La Mula-West, a Clovis-age quarry-workshop in central Panama. Richard Cooke (left), Anthony Ranere (center), Aureliano Valencia (right). Identifier MS_s_0032.jp2 OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1988 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple[2]/copyInformation/subLocation Parita Bay	Download
si_2764896		Patricia Hansell Thesis, La Mula Sarigua	TitleInfo/title Patricia Hansell Thesis, La Mula Sarigua TitleInfo/subTitle The Rise and Fall of An Early Formative Community Name Patricia Hansell Name/role Author TypeOfResource text OriginInfo/dateIssued 1998-04 Language/languageTerm eng Abstract Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the Department of Anthropology of Temple University. Based on the results of a site survey and evaluation project undertaken in 1983-1984 at the archaeological site La Mula Sarigua. PhysicalDescription/form text Subject/hierarchicalGeographic/continent North America Subject/hierarchicalGeographic/country Panama Subject/hierarchicalGeographic/province Herrera	Download
si_2764900		Hansell: Central Pacific Panama: La Mula Sarigua	TitleInfo/title Hansell: Central Pacific Panama: La Mula Sarigua TitleInfo/subTitle Hansell 1987 La Mula Sarigua Name Patricia Hansell Name/role Author TypeOfResource text Genre Professional punlication OriginInfo/dateIssued 1987 OriginInfo/publisher University Press of America OriginInfo/place[2]/placeTerm Lanham, Maryland Language/languageTerm eng Abstract To analyze the socioeconomic aspects of La Mula-Sarigua a survey and testing program was made by Patricia Hansell in 1983 and 1984. The field research design employed probabilistic and purposeful sampling strategies (parallel transects). The purpose of the research was to map and collect samples from the site surface, to do shovel test and excavate a small of units with a total of 1 km by 2 km area systematically examined, 1054 surface stations collected, 766 shovel probes completed, 7 surface features mapped, material collected and 19 units excavated. PhysicalDescription/form text Subject/hierarchicalGeographic/continent North America Subject/hierarchicalGeographic/country Panama Subject/hierarchicalGeographic/province Herrera	Download
si_2773887		La Mula Sarigua vessel	TitleInfo/title La Mula Sarigua vessel Abstract Fired clay vessel found in pieces as the site of La Mula-Sarigua, Herrera province, Panama (PR-14). Restored by Aureliano Valencia. From feature 242S-417E (Hansell 1988) . Likely dat:e 650-320 calibrated years BCE. The rim bears a circumferential deeply incised decoration. The incisions were originally filled with calcium carbonate. One of probably two inward-facing handles survived. It sppears to be the head of a frog or reptile. The vessel, which has a very thin body (4-8 mm), may have functioned as a "hanging bowl" for liquids. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1983	Download