Monagrillo (He-5)

Folder Type:

Project

Primary Title:

Monagrillo (He-5)

Alternate Title: Abbreviation

He-5

Summary Description:

Monagrillo (He-5) is a well-known archaeological site in tropical America. It is located near the marine shore of Parita Bay, a mangrove-fringed embayment, which is the most north-westerly portion of the much larger Panama Bay in the Pacific Ocean. Today it is a small elevated area ensconced within a fishing village and about 2 km inland from the active marine shore. It is in a very precarious conservation environment. It is known in local parlance as the “cerrito de conchas” on the outskirts of the expanding village of Boca de Parita, which is actually a few kilometers eastward from the town of Monagrillo. When the site was first used as a human settlement about 5000 years ago, it was located right on the active shore. From that moment on, riverine sedimentation coupled with aeolian (wind-blown) deposition gradually edged the active shore eastwards through the process of coastal progradation. Sediment core data obtained in 1979 show that, by about 3000 years ago (950 BCE), the ancient cluster of dwellings was surrounded by Rhizophora mangroves rendering the location barely habitable. Monagrillo was first located in 1948 by Gordon R. Willey and Charles R. McGimsey on a brief survey of coastal sites in Herrera Province during a Smithsonian-National Geographic project centered on sites further inland with mounds and polychrome ceramics (“Coclé), and directed by Matthew Stirling. Willey and McGimsey noted that the plain and monochrome pottery, decorated occasionally with incised and red-zoned designs, was radically different from the painted wares already described at sites in the adjoining region (now known as Gran Coclé) during the period of polychrome ceramics development). Radiocarbon chronology was not available at that time. Nevertheless, they proposed that the Monagrillo ware was older than other regional pottery complexes since it stood out as technologically and morphologically very different. Also, some of the grinding-stones were very similar to others found by McGimsey at Cerro Mangote across the Santa María River in Coclé Province. This site did not have pottery in the deepest strata and was classified as Preceramic. These archaeologists returned the dry season of 1952. They made a contour map, and excavated a much larger area with long trenches and some 3x3 m and 3x2 m pits. The strata were recovered with 10 cm and 50 cm levels irrespective of the complex stratigraphy. Sieves were used only once. For this reason, the numbers of vertebrate remains recovered was very low (261 elements). Shells collected as column samples, however, were analyzed quite thoroughly by Robert Greengo. Their vertical fluctuations in the mounded area were related appositely by the archaeologists to their interpretation of the site’s position vis-à-vis the marine shore. They used air photographs to reinforce their proposal, which has stood the test of more recent geomorphological work. After the excavations had terminated, careful profile drawings were made. The finds from Monagrillo were presented by Willey and McGImsey in a monograph: Willey, Gordon R. and C.R. McGimsey, III,1954. The Monagrillo Culture of Panama. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 49(2). Harvard University Press, Cambridge. In the 1975, Olga Linares and Tony Ranere re-visited Monagrillo where they excavated two pits (4 m2 and 1.5 m2). They added ten radiocarbon dates to the one analyzed by Edward Deevey in 1959 )from a 1954 charcoal sample): 2140 ± 70 BC (2880 [2610] 2460 cal BP). They referred the beginning of the human occupation on a sand-bar subject to wave action to ~3000 BC. Intermittent occupation ensued until ca.1950 cal BC followed by a span of more frequent or denser use up to cal. 1500 BC when the enlarging high tidal flat (“albina” [not “alvina”]) began to make life uncomfortable (the trade wind in this area of Panama is extremely strong for four months, desiccates the landscape quickly and creates an increasingly dusty and salt-laden atmosphere as the albina expands. Fumie Iizuka returned briefly to Monagrillo in search of intact sediments for her instrumental study of Monagrillo pottery, but did not find reliably intact sediments. When first studied in 1948-52, Willey and McGimsey surmised that Monagrillo’s inhabitants were primarily shellfish-gathers who also collected wild plant foods, hunted deer and peccary, and occasionally fished. They admitted that some agriculture may have been practiced, but in an “incipient” way. The 1975 tests produced frequent carbonized fragments of the American oil pam (Elaeis oleifera) and the wine palm (Acrocomia mexicana). The former species clusters near seasonal freshwater swamps. Maize and manioc starch was found on Monagrillo’s edge-ground cobbles while at the nearby site of Zapotal )(Pr-32), considerably larger than Monagrillo (He-5), starch grains from arrowroot, two American yams and pepper (Capsicum) were reported in addition to maize and manioc . Ranere and Linares used nested sieves with mesh size down to window-screen (2 mm) which resulted predictably in the recovery of a very large sample of fish remains. These were analyzed by Richard Cooke in the 1970s (for a summary of the ten most frequent fish species, see Cooke, R.G, 1992. Prehistoric near-shore and littoral fishing in the eastern tropical Pacific: an ichthyological evaluation. World Archaeology 6: 1-49); a detailed list of the fish taxa recovered over 1/8” mesh [3.2 mm) is available). For her Temple U. Master’s Thesis, Patricia Hansell analyzed mollusc remains from a 0.3 m2 column sample. She found a relationship between taxa and sedimentation processes that was broadly similar to the one proposed by Greengo: decreases in the decline of clams (Tivela byronensis) from a high-energy marine edge environmental overlapping with increases in oysters (Ostrea) as the albina grew seawards and a saline lagoon formed alongside the site. Monagrillo was likely to have been primarily a fishing village, which may have served inland sites such as Zapotal and the Cueva de los Ladrones with salted and dried fish. It can be considered a precursor of later sites such as the Vampiros shelters at the mouth of the Santa María River in Coclé province.

Place: Project Location

Location: Central Pacific Panama Region: Azuero Peninsula. Herrera Province Country: Panama

Actor: Principal Investigator

Anthony J. Ranere

Actor: Principal Investigator

Olga Linares

Actor: Principal Investigator

Richard S. McCarty

Actor: Principal Investigator

Richard Cooke

Actor: Principal Investigator

Fumie Iizuka

PID	Type	Title	Metadata	URL
si_1015		Block 2E	TitleInfo/title Block 2E Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), Block 2E, CAT#74 137 cm b.d. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 08-15-1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1016		Block 2 column samples	TitleInfo/title Block 2 column samples Abstract Monagrillo (HE-5), completion of Block 2 East, showing position of column samples. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1019		Test excavations view	TitleInfo/title Test excavations view Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). View of the test excavations from the landward side. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1021		General view	TitleInfo/title General view Abstract General view of Monagrillo (He-5). Name Olga F.Linares Name/role Photographer Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1023		Column samples	TitleInfo/title Column samples Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Ranere's excavations, Block 1, showing location of column samples. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1024		Block 1 east	TitleInfo/title Block 1 east Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Ranere's excavations, Block 1, north and east walls. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1026		Block 2E	TitleInfo/title Block 2E Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Block 2E, Cat. No 74, 137 cm below datum, showing south wall. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 08-1975	Download
si_1027		Initial mapping	TitleInfo/title Initial mapping Abstract Mongrillo (He-5), initial mapping of the site. Anthony J Ranere and Richard S McCarthy in picture. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1028		North wall of Block 2	TitleInfo/title North wall of Block 2 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Block 2, profile of north wall. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1029		View from the south	TitleInfo/title View from the south Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). View from the south across the flooded albina (an ancient and now sedimented lagoon). OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1030		Having lunch	TitleInfo/title Having lunch Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Lunch time at the digs (Block 1). Richard McCarthy (left), Oscar Velarde (Patrimonio Historico,center), Tony Ranere (right) in picture. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1031		South wall	TitleInfo/title South wall Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Block 1, profile of the south wall OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1032		Column samples	TitleInfo/title Column samples Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Block 1, showing location of column samples taken in the walls. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1033		Drawing profiles	TitleInfo/title Drawing profiles Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Richard McCarthy Drawing wall profiles of Block 1. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1034		Monagrillo complex pottery	TitleInfo/title Monagrillo complex pottery Abstract Monagrillo Complex pottery from Monagrillo (He-5), Cueva de los Ladrones and Aguadulce Shelter. Name Richard Cooke Name/role Author OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1035		Mapping before excavation	TitleInfo/title Mapping before excavation Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Anthony Ranere makes a map of the site prior to excavations. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1036		He-5 long trench	TitleInfo/title He-5 long trench Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), excavation of a long trench showing profile. Name Bob McGimsey Name/role Photographer OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1952 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1037		He-5 view	TitleInfo/title He-5 view Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). View of the site from the sedimented lagoon OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1038		Taking lunch	TitleInfo/title Taking lunch Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), taking lunch at the excavation of Block 1. Anthony R. Ranere and Richard McCarthy in picture. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1040		Mapping the site	TitleInfo/title Mapping the site Abstract Moangrillo (He-5), Anthony J, Ranere makes a map of the site. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1041		Drawing profile pit wall	TitleInfo/title Drawing profile pit wall Abstract Moangrillo (He-5), Block 1, Richard McCarthy draws the profile of a pit wall. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1042		Visit to Ranere's excavations	TitleInfo/title Visit to Ranere's excavations Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), visit to Ranere's excavations. Cerro Tigre in the background. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1043		Block floor 125 bd	TitleInfo/title Block floor 125 bd Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), Bloack 1 (West), floor 125 bd OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1075		Block 2 excavation	TitleInfo/title Block 2 excavation Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), Ranere's excavations, Block 2. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1076		Block 2 south wall	TitleInfo/title Block 2 south wall Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), excavation of Block 2, profile of south wall. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1077		Excavating Block 2	TitleInfo/title Excavating Block 2 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), Richard McCarthy excavating Block 2, West OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1078		Completing Block 1	TitleInfo/title Completing Block 1 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), Richard McCarthy completing Block 1 (West). OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1079		Block 2 east	TitleInfo/title Block 2 east Abstract Monagrillo (HE-5), completion of Block 2 East, showing position of column samples. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1080		Extracting El Tigre urn	TitleInfo/title Extracting El Tigre urn Abstract Costa Rican students extracting an "El Tigre" (colonial) urn from the surface of the Monagrillo archaeological site.	Download
si_1081		Around Monagrillo	TitleInfo/title Around Monagrillo Abstract Warwick and others walking around the Monangrilo (He-5) site. Warwick Bray and others in picture	Download
si_1082		El Tigre urn	TitleInfo/title El Tigre urn Abstract Extracting an "El Tigre" (colonial) urn from the surface of the Monagrillo archaeological site. Michael J. Snarskis and Maritza Gutierrez (green shirt) in picture. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1982	Download
si_1083		Shrimp tanks	TitleInfo/title Shrimp tanks Abstract Looking down on shrimp tanks from the summit of Cerro Tigre in front of the Monagrillo (He-5) archaeological site.	Download
si_1084		Summit of Cerro Tigre	TitleInfo/title Summit of Cerro Tigre Abstract Looking down on the newly built shrimp tanks from the summit of Cerro Tigre, located to the south of the Monagrillo (He-5) archaeological site.	Download
si_1085		Sieving sediments	TitleInfo/title Sieving sediments Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), Ranere's excavations. Sieving sediments with a local helper. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1086		Bottom of Block 1	TitleInfo/title Bottom of Block 1 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Richard McCarthy cleaning the bottom of Block 1 (West). OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1087		Early Ceramic hatation	TitleInfo/title Early Ceramic hatation Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), looking towards the Early Ceramic habitation site (where palms are) from the shrimp tank wall. Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1088		West sector Block 1	TitleInfo/title West sector Block 1 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Ranere's excavations, Block 1, west sector, completed. Beginning east sector. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1089		Excavation Block 1	TitleInfo/title Excavation Block 1 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Ranere's excavations, Block 1, west, completed. Richard McCarthy in picture. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975	Download
si_1090		Mapping He-5	TitleInfo/title Mapping He-5 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Anthony Ranere mapping the site. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1091		He-5 Block 1	TitleInfo/title He-5 Block 1 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Ranere's excavations (Block 1) OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1092		Walking He-5	TitleInfo/title Walking He-5 Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Warwick and Madeleine Bray walking around the site. Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1093		Monagrillo eastern end	TitleInfo/title Monagrillo eastern end Abstract Monagrillo (He-5). Eastern end of the site looking across shrimp tanks towards the east. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1982 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1094		Surface investigation	TitleInfo/title Surface investigation Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), surface investigation. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1975 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download
si_1095		Monagrillo background	TitleInfo/title Monagrillo background Abstract Monagrillo (He-5), with Cerro Tigre in background. OriginInfo/dateCaptured 1982 Location/physicalLocation Panama Location/holdingSimple/copyInformation/subLocation Herrera	Download