Reconstructing the settlement history of La Mula-Sirigua

Archaeological Applications of GIS: Proceedings of Colloquium II, UISPP XIIIth Congress, Forli, Italy, September 1996 Johnson, I. & North, M. (eds) 1997. Sydney University Archaeological Methods Series 5.

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Reconstructing the Settlement History of La Mula-Sarigua, Central Pacific Panama: Exercises for Studying the Past

Patricia K. Hansell, Temple University

1. Introduction

A series of geographically-referenced computerized databases have been compiled for assessing intrasite variability at La Mula-Sarigua, Central Pacific Panama. The site was initially occupied by hunter-gatherers during the 11th millennium BP; by the 3rd millennium BP it had grown to become the region's first large agriculturally-based center. It was virtually abandoned in the early 2nd millennium BP; reoccupation occurred in the late 2nd millennium BP. This temporal/spatial variability can best be analyzed and interpreted using GIS techniques. To use these techniques the following documentation has been provided:

1. Site and regional background; 2. Site digital map databases (x 3); 3. Site artifactual databases (x 3); 4. A sample of site-specific questions to solve.

This package of information is an initial attempt at developing a training set for use in classes which are concerned with archaeological method and theory, computer techniques and solving problems of a spatial nature. The package is supplied simply as documented datasets with indicative questions which might be posed - no attempt is made, at this stage, to put together a specific set of exercises or instructions.

2. Site and regional background

The archaeological site designated as La Mula-Sarigua (PR-14) occupies an area measuring approximately 2 x 1 kms. It is situated on an eroded fluvial terrace and is presently 2 km distant from Parita Bay and 0.5 km from the Parita River of Central Pacific Panama (Figure 1).

It became a focus of archaeological investigation in the mid-1980s because it contained a large 3rd millennium BP agricultural settlement - the earliest known settlement of its type in Panama (Hansell 1988; Cooke & Ranere 1984). In addition to documenting early settled occupation, this investigation also determined that the area had been repeatedly - albeit sporadically - occupied from 11,000 BP to the present (Ranere & Cooke 1996). To examine changes in the 11,000 year settlement history of La Mula-Sarigua artifactual materials were incorporated into a series of computerized, UTM-referenced databases. A site contour map was digitized and imported into vector- and raster-based GIS.


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Figure 1

Aerial view of La Mula-Sarigua, Panama

Figure 2

Pleistocene beach ridge composed of cobbles and boulders of cryptocrystalline silicates

Site ecological setting

The most distinctive feature of the present landscape in the catchment area of La Mula-Sarigua is the salt flat/mangrove coastal zone and the distant ocean. From a longitudinal perspective neither the vegetation nor the shoreline (and, therefore, potentially available food resources) are stable elements of the landscape. For example, 11,000 years ago the shoreline was 50 km SE of its current location; it was 15 km distant 8000 years ago. By 7000 BP, or shortly thereafter, the ocean's waters lapped at the slopes leading away from the site area.

Between 5000 - 3000 BP the site overlooked a high energy beach. By 2500 BP a low energy environment had been created with mangrove vegetation fringing the seaward boundary of La Mula-Sarigua. Throughout the next 1000 years this fringe expanded in width separating the site from the open sea and the river. The salt flat which borders the site today was formed after 1200 BP (Hansell & Ranere 1996a).

Landward of the site is a broad band of ancient floodplain deposits (alluvium) which formed when the Parita River flowed closer to the site and at higher elevations. Also incorporated within the site's boundaries is a Pleistocene beach ridge composed of cobbles and boulders of cryptocrystalline silicates (Figure 2).

Regional prehistory of Central Panama

The first known inhabitants of the region are the Terminal Pleistocene hunter-gatherers identified archaeologically as Paleoindians. A Clovis workshop at La Mula-Sarigua is the most obvious evidence for their presence (Ranere & Cooke 1991). In addition, there is a 14C date of c. 11,000 BP for the initial burning of mid-elevational lakeside vegetation (Laguna de la Yeguada, Veraguas - Piperno et al. 1991a). There is also a slightly later 14C date of 10,400 BP for a small occupied rockshelter (Corona) south of La Yeguada at c. 200m elevation (Ranere & Cooke 1996).


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Only five stratified rockshelter deposits (four with 14C dates) and one open-air workshop for manufacturing notched bifacial points can be securely placed in this period. An additional 19 sites have yielded either bifacial thinning flakes or bifaces and probably date from this period (bifacial thinning as a manufacturing technique in Panama is limited to Paleoindian and Early Preceramic periods). Such sites are small in size, contain modest amounts of cultural debris and are scattered from the coast to near the Divide in the Pacific watershed (Cooke & Ranere 1992a; Ranere & Cooke 1996).

Based on the carbon flux record at Yeguada, burning continued throughout the 11,000-8600 BP period (Piperno et al. 1991b). After 8600 BP the amount of forest burning/clearance is more consistent with swidden agriculture. Increased burning coincides with the appearance of arrowroot (one of several tubers proposed as an early domesticate) at 8560 BP in a coastal site (Cueva Vampiros) - a context seemingly outside its natural habitat (Ranere 1992; Piperno et al. 1992). Moreover, specialized plant processors (edge-ground cobbles) appear for the first time in a foothill rockshelter (Carabali) dated to 8000 BP.

The pattern of simple swidden agriculture and estuarine resource use by transhumant populations was clearly in place by the Late Preceramic. The paleo-ecological record indicates increased deforestation by burning; relative to the Early Preceramic there is a tenfold increase in site numbers; site size and occupational intensity increase as well; edge-ground cobbles and their cobble bases are found in large numbers everywhere; stable isotope analysis of skeletons and the habitual occurrence of maize microfossils in lake and archaeological sediments indicate significant maize consumption. After 7000 BP estuarine resources are present in increasing quantities in sites on the coast, the coastal plain and rockshelters 25 to 40 km distant from the coast. Stone tools are unretouched or minimally-retouched flakes struck from unprepared cores; bipolar reduction becomes increasingly common (Cooke & Ranere 1992a; Ranere 1992).

The major distinguishing feature of this period is the addition of pottery to the material culture. Transhumance continues between inland and coastal site, although coastal sites become more numerous and larger. Increased quantities of small, schooling fish in coastal sites reflect new capture techniques. Chipped stone tools are nearly identical to those produced previously; edge ground cobbles continue to be the most common plant processor (Cooke & Ranere 1992a).

Initially, changes in ceramic types distinguish the early from the later part of this period. However, in the latter (2500-2200 BP) there are initial steps towards large sedentary villages (i.e. La Mula-Sarigua), dependence on maize as a staple crop, replacement of edge ground cobbles with manos and metates and the appearance of polished stone axes in large numbers; these settlement and subsistence changes are accompanied by craft specialization, long distance trade and social differentiation (Hansell 1987, 1988).

After 2200 BP the focus of settlement and subsistence shifts to the lower river valleys crossing the coastal plain. Permanent settlements as large as 60 ha become common; carbonized maize remains dominate the macrobotanical record at sites; and stable isotope analysis of skeletons indicates high maize consumption. Large numbers of polished stone celts are found in all post-2200 BP village sites; these presumably played an important role


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in clearing the gallery forests (Cooke & Ranere 1992a; Ranere 1992; Hansell & Ranere 1996b).

By 1400 BP interpretations of the archaeological record suggest that the cultural patterns reported by the 16th century Spanish chroniclers were in place (Cooke & Ranere 1992b).

3a. La Mula database file

The lamula.txt file consists of 1031 records. Each record contains five variables (Table 1). The data file has been edited for consistency by eliminating duplicates and inserting missing data where possible.

Table 1 La Mula database variables

Variable Name Variable Description

RECORDNR Field Record Number

EASTING Easting UTM Coordinate

NORTHING Northing UTM Coordinate

CULTMAT Cultural Material (Present=yes; Absent=No)

COLLTYPE Field Collection Type (Sondeo or Surface)

How site data was collected

To optimize the recovery of data which would permit the characterization of site parameters, such as size, chronology and intrasite variability, a two-phase survey and evaluation program was implemented at La Mula-Sarigua. Phase 1 used a probabilistic sampling strategy to identify the location and nature of cultural materials/features across the site; phase 2 utilized a purposive scheme based on the results from the initial phase (detailed in Hansell 1988).


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The probabilistic sample

Transects were the initial sampling unit. They were spaced 100m apart; each was sampled at 25m intervals. Where a 25m surface locality wasexposed a 1m square total pickup was made and the first 10 diagnostic artifacts (five ceramic, five lithic) were picked up within a 25m radius of the stake. Where a 25m locality was covered in vegetation a 30cm diameter shovel test (sondeo) was dug (Figure 1). The residues were screened through a 1/4" sieve; all retrieved materials were bagged.

Transect lengths ranged from 100m to 2 km. Lengths were determined by natural boundaries to the north, east and west; the absence of cultural materials defined the southernmost margin.

Figure 3 La Mula-Sarigua sampling locality

The purposive sample

Note: The present version of the La Mula file consists only of data collected from the probabilistic survey.

Based on the results of the probabilistic sample, six surface features were selected for intensive mapping/collecting and 21 units (1 sq. m each) selected for excavation. These features/units were chosen because they contained materials indicative of 1st millennium BC occupation. Both the time period and the site are critical to regional interpretations of change.

Suggested exercises

Based on the presence (or absence) of cultural material these data can be used to:

1. Determine site boundaries; 2. Estimate areal extent of occupation; 3. Assess the problems surrounding the placement, spacing and orientation of

individual transects; 4. Determine which part(s) of the site contain exposed and which part contains

vegetated surfaces, using the basemap provided.

3b. Ceramic database file

The ceramic.txt file consists of 4636 records. Each record contains four variables (Table 1).


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Table 1 Ceramic database variables





CERATYPE Ceramic type name

The ceramic sample

In excess of 20,000 sherds have been recovered from the site (only a sample is included in this exercise). Analyses completed thus far suggest the chronology outlined in Table 2. (see Cooke 1995; Hansell 1988; Isaza 1993 for a complete discussion on various aspects of these types and dates). Types present at La Mula-Sarigua range from the earliest known in the region (Monagrillo c. 5000 BP) through to the latest (El Hatillo terminating c. 300 BP).

Table 2 Ceramic chronology

Period Date BP

Ceramic Type Name

Date BP Images

Early Ceramic

5000-2900 a. Monagrillo 5000-

3100

b. Early 3100-2900


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Middle Ceramic

2900-1400

a. Aguadulce-Ladrones

2900-2500

? Sarigua

b. La Mula 2500-2100

c. Tonosi 2100-1700


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d. Aristide 1700-1500

e.?new transitional type

1500-1400

Late Ceramic

1400-300 a. Conte 1400-

1200

b. Macaracas 1200-1000 *combined in present dataset as LATE

c. Parita 1000-700 *combined in present dataset as LATE

d. El Hatillo 700-300 *combined in present dataset as LATE

Suggested exercises

Given the spatial and temporal nature of this dataset, it is possible to go beyond circumscribing overall site boundaries, at least for post-5000 BP settlement. One can specify rather precisely:

1. Where and when the site was occupied; 2. The areal extent of each occupation; 3. The growth and/or decline of occupation based on comparing areal extents.

3c. Lithic database file

The lithic.txt database consists of 1339 records; each record consists of four variables (Table 1).

Table 1 Lithic database variables




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LITHTYPE Lithic type name

The lithic sample

Ceramics make their initial appearance in the region c. 5000 BP. Worked lithic materials, however, extend as far back as 11,000 years ago. The primary diagnostic lithic types recovered from the region (Table 2) have also been recovered from the site (see Hansell 1988; Ranere 1992; Ranere & Cooke 1996 for a more thorough discussion on lithic chronology and technology).

In most instances, each of the types outlined in Table 2 corresponds with a particular function. For example, breadboard metates and bar manos are used to process cultivated plants, such as maize or squash; these tools were produced off-site (locality unknown) and brought to La Mula-Sarigua as completed products. Stemmed flake points are manufactured on-site but use-wear studies indicate that they are also utilized there as well; they are used for a variety of domestic purposes, such as cutting, scraping and perforating.

Table 2 Lithic chronology

Period Date BP Lithic Type Name Date BP

Paleoindian 11,000-10,000 Fluted points, heavily ground flake platforms 11,000-

10,000

Early Preceramic

10,000-7000

Bifacial/stemmed/notched points, lightly ground crushed flake platforms

10,000-8600

Edge-ground cobbles 8600-3000

Late Preceramic

7000-5000

Milling stone, hand stones 7000-2200

Tabular wedges 7000-3000

Blade/flake knives, stemmed pointed flakes 6000-5000

Early Ceramic

5000-3000 Adze slugs 5000-

3000

Middle Ceramic

3000-1400

Breadboard metates, bar manos, stemmed flake points, pear-shaped celts, core and flake scraper planes

2500-2200

Prismatic blades, legged metates, cylindrical manos, notched blade/ knives, gold#

2200-1200

Late Ceramic 1400-300 Tanged blade knives or points with triangular blades 1500-


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1200Trapezoidal celts, steeply chipped stemmed points w/triangular cross-sections (trifaces) 1200-300

Table 3 Lithic types

Lithic types Database code Images

Fluted points; ground platforms FLUTEGRD


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Bifacial point fragments BIFRAG

Edge-ground cobbles EDGIE

Breadboard metates

Bar manos

BREADBOARD

BARMAN


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Pear shaped celts

Trapezoidal celts

PEARCELT

TRAPCELT

Stemmed flake points UNIFACE


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Scraper planes SCRAPLAN

Legged metates METATE Cylindrical manos MANO

Suggested exercises

Plotting the distribution of lithics by type, particularly for those diagnostic types which precede 5000 BP, one can obtain additional information on early occupation of the site and activity loci:

1. Specify the location and areal extent of early site occupation; 2. By combining early site occupation results with those from the ceramic analysis,

changes in overall peopling of the site can be assessed; 3. By plotting functional types alone and/or in combination, activity loci can be

detected; 4. The spatial relationship between various classes can be quantitatively analyzed, e.g.

through the use of scattergrams, regressions, etc.

4. Bibliography

Cooke, R.G. 1984 Archaeological research in central and eastern Panama: a review of some problems. In Lange, F.W. & Stone, D.Z. (eds) The Archaeology of Lower Central America. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. pp. 263-302.


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Cooke, R.G. & Ranere, A.J. 1992a Prehistoric human adaptations to the seasonally dry forests of Panama. World Archaeology. 24(1):114-133.

Cooke, R.G. & Ranere, A.J. 1992b The Origin of Wealth and Hierarchy in the Central Region of Panama (12,000-2,000 BP), with Observations on Its Relevance to the History and Phylogeny of Chibchan-Speaking Polities in Panama and Elsewhere. In Lange, F. (ed.) Wealth and Hierarchy in the Intermediate Area. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks. pp. 243-316.

Cooke, R.G. 1995 Monagrillo, Panama's first pottery: summary of research, with new interpretations. In Barnett, W. K. & Hoopes, J. W. (eds) The Emergence of Pottery: Technology and Innovation in Ancient Societies. Washington, D.C.:Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 169-184.

Hansell, P. 1987 The Formative in Pacific Central Panama: La Mula-Sarigua. In Drennan, R.D. & Uribe, C. (eds) Chiefdoms of America. Lanham: University Press of America. pp. 119-39.

Hansell, P. 1988 The Rise and Fall of an Early Formative Community: La Mula-Sarigua, central Pacific Panama. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Philadelphia: Temple University.

Hansell, P. & Ranere, A.J. 1996a Modelling intrasite landscapes: 10,000 years of occupation at La Mula-Sarigua, Panama. Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology, New Orleans.

Hansell, P. & Ranere, A.J. 1996b Modelling deforestation and population growth: a view from prehistoric Central Panama. Paper/poster presented at the Congress of the International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences, Forli, Italy.

Isaza, Ilean 1993 Desarrallo Estilistico de la Ceramica Pintada del Panama Central con Enfasis en el Periodo 500 AC - 500 DC. Tesis Profesional para Licenciado en Arqueologia, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Piperno, D.R., Bush, M.B. & Colinvaux, P.A. 1991a Paleoecological perspectives on human adaptation in Panama. I. The Pleistocene. Geoarchaeology. 6(3):201-226.

Piperno, D.R., Bush, M.B. & Colinvaux, P.A. 1991b Paleoecological perspectives on human adaptation in Panama. II The Holocene. Geoarchaeology. 6(3):227-250.

Piperno, D.R., Bush, M.B. & Colinvaux, P.A. 1992 Patterns of articulation of culture and the plant world in Prehistoric Panama: 11,500 BP - 3000 BP. In Ortiz-Troncoso, O.R. & van der Hammen, T. (eds) Archaeology and Environment in Latin America. Universiteit van Amsterdam: I.P.P. pp. 109-128.


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Ranere, A.J. 1992 Implements of change in the Holocene environments of Panama. In Ortiz-Troncoso, O.R. & van der Hammen, T. (eds) Archaeology and Environment in Latin America. Universiteit van Amsterdam: I.P.P. pp. 25-44.

Ranere, A.J. & Cooke, R.G. 1991 Paleo-indian occupation in the Central American tropics. In Bonnichsen, R. & Fladmark, K. (eds) Clovis: Origins and Human Adaptation. Peopling of the Americas. Corvallis: Oregon State University, Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of the First Americans. pp. 237-253.

Ranere, A.J. & Cooke, R.G. 1996 Stone Tools and Cultural Boundaries in Prehistoric Panama: An Initial Assessment. In Lange, F. (ed.) Paths to Central American Prehistory. Niwot: University of Colorado Press. pp. 49-78.

Documents

Reconstructing the settlement history of La Mula-Sirigua