The Geologic And Paleogeographic Setting Of An Archeological Site On The Southwestern Coast Of Parita Bay, Panama

Abstract

The coastal region in the southwestern corner of Parita Bay, Panama has five distinct environmental zones that can be individually identified by their textures. Sediment extracted from cores can be divided into zones of sediment type on the basis of texture. These zones of distinctive sediment types in the cores correspond closely with the sediment types found in the modern geomorphic zones. The sequence of environments found within the cores shows that the coastal region of southwestern Parita Bay, Panama has been prograding following a period of rapid sea level rise. This rise in sea level is dated at approximately 5,000 years ago from a sedimentation rate of 0.5 mm/year and corresponds closely with the initial occupation of an archeological site.