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Panama: Bocas del Toro Archaeological Project

Discovered in the summer of 2002, Sitio Drago is a large (15 ha) site located on the Caribbean shore at Boca del Drago, on northwest corner Isla Colón in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. The local environment is hot, humid and alive with all sorts of exotic tropical plants and animals – ashore, on the reefs and in the mangroves. The ceramic artifacts collected from Sitio Drago exhibit a diversity of specimens that hint at external connections to Chiriqui on the Pacific coast and SW Costa Rica, and the central valley and Guanacaste regions in northwest Costa Rica. Carved stone “metate” fragments recovered from Sitio Drago are similar to complete examples found throughout Panama and Costa Rica. Given the diverse array of artifacts the project is focused on examining what the site can tell us about prehistoric social organization, trade and external relations in the region and whether Sitio Drago represents a unique chiefly settlement.

This program involves an application process. Student applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis. Archaeological work involves physical work in the outdoors. You should be aware that conditions in the field are different than those you experience in your home or college town. This program operates in tropical environments where chitras, mosquitoes and other tropical insects are abundant. The local climate is hot and humid. It rains a lot and there is no air-conditioning. You will not be able to work in shorts at the site. If you have any concerns, discuss them with your doctor and/or project director as appropriate.
 
To access this field school program's Moodle course website, please click here.

Course Information

Program Dates:
Jul 04, 2010 - Aug 07, 2010

Enrollment Status: Closed

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