Site organization
The site itself is located on the eastern bank of the Rio Grande de Coclé. From its core, it spreads east, north and south along the river. Surrounding the site are grasslands and a number of small hills. To the north of Sitio Conte are the Tabasará Mountains; to the south liesA brief history
Little is known about Sitio Conte and the individuals who are interred therein. A number of theories as to the function of the site have been offered, ranging from a "summer residence," to a shared burial ground. Those interred within the graves have been identified as either "chiefly families" or "chiefs and warriors slain in a single battle". Archaeologists have a good understanding as to when the site was in use, ascertained by dates associated with the goldwork and polychrome ceramics in the graves. From these artifacts, it has been revealed that the site was used from approximately AD 450 to 900. Around AD 900, the cemetery was abandoned; however, based on household refuse, it appears that domestic occupation of the site continued.Archaeology at Sitio Conte
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Rio Grande de Coclé changed course and began to cut through the western edge of the site. In doing so, it washed a number of artifacts down stream, which were later collected and sold. Some objects were displayed by the Panamanian government during the opening of the Panama Canal in 1915. In 1927, the river changed course once again, sending more objects downstream. In 1928, the Conte family excavated a pit, which revealed some of the large stone columns that Lothrop later referred to in his reports. Several of these objects found their way to thProminent graves
Grave 1
Grave 1 is considered to be one of the more prominent unearthed during the Peabody excavation. It dates to AD 400-500. Those who were interred have been interpreted to be a "chief and three of his retainers". The primary occupant, skeleton 1, was interred in a seated position and lavishly adorned with grave goods. Among these were eight effigy vessels and 112 plates or bowls, all of which were spread along the edge of the grave. Also included were gold orGrave 5
Dating to around AD 700/800-900, Grave 5 contained fifteen skeletons and a number of grave goods. Interred in the seated position, the primary skeleton (15) was originally housed in a "makeshift hut," that had long since decomposed. His grave goods included a carved whale tooth pendant, stone mirror backs, gold or tumbaga greaves, cuffs, plaques and a helmet. On the floor were stone slabs, tortoise shells and various ceramics. Of the other fourteen skeletons that were included in the grave, eight were located along the south and west sides of the grave and the other six were found on the northern edge. Lothrop felt that the northern group likely belonged to an earlier burial. Some of their grave goods included bone, gold and stone pendants.Grave 26
One of the richest graves of the Peabody excavations, Grave 26 contained 22 skeletons and dates to the same period as Grave 5. The primary occupant, skeleton 12, was interred in a seated position and was once enclosed in a makeshift hut. Forming the floor of the grave were a number of ceramics, a stone slab and the remainder of the grave's occupants. Some of the grave goods that are associated with the primary interment include gold or tumbaga plaques, cuffs, greaves, beads, carved whale teeth and manatee ribs, stingray spines and an emerald. Of the 126 ceramic pieces found in Grave 26, a majority of them lined the walls of the grave. These included thirty-six effigy vessels and ninety polychrome plates. The other occupants had a few grave goods, including several gold ear rods, which were associated with Skeleton 8.Grave 74
Excavated during the 1940 expedition led by J. Alden Mason, Grave 74 dates to AD 700/800-900 and is one of richest known graves at Sitio Conte. The primary occupants, skeletons 15 and 16, were found lying on top of one another in the center of the middle layer. Also known as Burial 11, this grave contained over 7500 mortuary furnishings, as well as twenty-three interments that were placed on three levels. Upper level As Mason and his team were digging, they uncovered eight skeletons, all of which were lying face down and parallel to one another. Six of these skeletons were identified as old or mature males, while the other two were unsexed. Among their grave goods were ceramics, stone projectile points, celts, and a winged agate pendant. Skeleton 4 had a cache of stone points at its feet, a cache of gold beads and five repoussé gold plaques, which lay atop the individual. Intact vessels and ceramic sherds lined the north and south ends of the burial, which continued down into the second level. Middle level Proceeding further into the excavation, the team began to reveal a 2nd level of burials. This level contained twelve skeletons that were accompanied by thousands of grave goods. The primary occupants of the grave, skeletons 15 and 16, were located in the center of this level with five skeletons on the pair's east side, three on the west and single skeletons on the north and south ends. Associated with the central individuals were a large number of grave goods, including a large number of repoussé and plain gold plaques, ear rods, bells, greaves and beads. There were also a number of stone projectile points and celts. The most famous of the goods associated with these individuals is the cast gold composite effigy animal pendant with an emerald embedded in its back. This was found lying bottom up atop the gold plaques that covered the two central individuals. Numerous items were placed with the other occupants of this grave: gold triangles, a pair of whale teeth, a carved figure covered with gold, canine teeth, several green projectile points and a stone celt. It was on this level that the "ceramic wall" reached both its thickest point, 30 centimeters, and its end. The excavators began to become overwhelmed by the large quantity of ceramics and removed many of the vessels without recording any information. Mason (n.d.: 64) noted that the field team got "gold fever" and "were anxious to get hevessels removed from above hegold objects, so began removing vessels before making list". Lower level After clearing the second level, the team reached the lowest point of the grave. As they removed the layer of ceramic sherds and surrounding dirt, they uncovered three skeletons. The individual in the center, skeleton 21, lay on its side, while the other two lay face down. Two of the skeletons, 21 and 22, had a few objects associated with them, including a gold bat effigy pendant, ear rods, some stone celts, and a large embossed gold plaque.The art of Sitio Conte
The iconography of the gold and ceramic pieces at Sitio Conte reflects a highly refined artistry. While some figures are abstract representations of animals, others appear to beSitio Conte today
Sitio Conte has remained untouched by professional archaeologists since Mason's only season in 1940. The land where the site is located belongs to the Conte family of Coclé, and is currently in use as agricultural fields.References
Bibliography
* Benson, Elizabeth P. (1992) "Motifs, Meanings, and Myths: The Iconography of Sitio Conte Gold Plaques" in River of Gold – Precolumbian Treasures from Sitio Conte. Eds: Hearne, Pamela and Robert J. Sharer Philadelphia: University Museum, University of Pennsylvania. * Bray, Warwick (1992) "Sitio Conte Metalwork in its Pan-American Context" in River of Gold – Precolumbian Treasures from Sitio Conte. Eds: Hearne, Pamela and Robert J. Sharer Philadelphia: University Museum, University of Pennsylvania. * Briggs, Peter S. (1989) Art, Death, and Social Order: The Mortuary Arts of Pre-Conquest Central Panama. BAR international series, 550. Oxford, England: B.A.R. * Cooke, Richard G. (1976) Panama: Region Central. ''Vinculos'', 2:122–140. * Hearne, Pamela (1992) "The Story of the River of Gold" in River of Gold—Precolumbian Treasures from Sitio Conte. Eds: Hearne, Pamela and Robert J. Sharer Philadelphia: University Museum, University of Pennsylvania. * Linares, Olga F. (1977) "Ecology and the arts in ancient Panama: On the development of social rank and symbolism in the central provinces." in Studies in pre-Columbian art and archaeology, no. 17. Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University. * Lothrop, Samuel K. (1937) Coclé, an archaeological study of central Panama, vol. 1. Cambridge: Published by the Museum. * Stirling, M. W. (1949) The Importance of Sitio Conte. ''American Anthropologist'', 45(3), pp. 514–517.External links