13 new archaeological sites found in Rupununi

IN  light of the disclosure of 13 new archaeological sites that were found in the Rupununi Savannah, Region 9, during an anthropology field school visit to the Karanambo Ranch, Archaeologist attached to the Boise State University, Dr Mark Plew has urged that exploration continues in that district. Speaking at a Public lecture on Tuesday at the Umana Yana, Kingston that was hosted by the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry through the Walter Roth Museum, Dr. Plew said most of the territory in the Rupununi is uncharted.
The discoveries were made over the past weeks and included a large area of land where stone implements were being made.  
“There were stone hoes and knives. We have never found anything like this in the Rupununi, and as large as those. Some of them were three or four times the size of the Umana Yana, really large areas and the raw material is really dense…I have never seen anything like that,” Dr. Plew stated.
“We have already catalogued all of them, all of them have been processed and already photographed and they are being stored at the Walter Roth museum,” he told the gathering.
Dr. Plew said that most of the territories in the Rupununi are unexplored and urged that the museum continues to explore the area in order to preserve Guyana’s culture.
He said body parts were found, those of three females, one male and the other could not be determined, all of which were between the ages of 20 to 38 years.
Several habitats or villages were also discovered on the 13 new sites, according to the archaeologist.
He expressed appreciation to the ministry and the Walter Roth Museum for affording him the opportunity to explore the savannahs.
Additionally, during the recent discoveries, the Museum also trained seven students, two from Georgetown and the remainder from the Rupununi Savannah.
The students had the opportunity to identify artifacts and have a first-hand view of some of Guyana’s undiscovered culture.
Anthropological Officer of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology Louisa Daggers said, the museum will continue to explore Guyana through its field visits in an effort to preserve the country’s rich and diverse culture.(GINA)a

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