Turrialba, a multicomponent quarry and manufacturing site in eastern Costa Rica, has yielded in surface collections 18 fluted points, fragments, and preforms. Both North and South American paleo-Indian point types are represented. Also present are keeled scrapers, end scrapers with lateral spurs, large flake side scrapers, burins, knives, and large blades. Turrialba is as yet undated, but future excavations at the site will be crucial in understanding the diffusion and development of the fluted point tradition in the Americas.
Although the eastern lowlands of Costa Rica have seen little scientific archaeology, recent stratigraphic test excavations have outlined a ceramic sequence of almost 1,500 years in the region. The earliest ceramic complex in this sequence, El Bosque, has been radiocarbon dated to the first few centuries after Christ. Stylistically, the El Bosque complex resembles material from contemporary periods in adjacent regions (Zoned Bichrome, Aguas Buenas), but also shares many ceramic modes with the Colombian site of Momil. A carbonized maize cob from an El Bosque midden is eight-rowed Pollo, an ancient race of South American maize. Evidence is presented supporting the hypothesis that aboriginal cultural traditions in eastern Costa Rica were basically part of a northern South American tropical forest pattern.
Abrams' suggestion that 'what is needed is the formulation and implementation of a sound, vigorous program for persuading colleges [especially community colleges) to include anthropology in their curnculums" (September 1978 AN) should indeed be carried out. The unfortunate fact is that trained anthropologists are unlikely to be hired at community colleges. The typical community college administrator Is reluctant to hire anyone with good academic credentials; it is feared that they will leave at the first opportunity Two-year colleges thus prefer to hire high-school teachers with some years of teaching experience. Most commonly, these refugees from the public school system have attended night school for their MA at a state col lege and lack any first-hand field research experience These attitudes are rooted in the past. We need to tell community college administrations that many first-rate anthropologists with field research experience cannot expect |obs in fouryear colleges We also need to insist to them that the best teachers of anthropology are those with first-hand research experience The fact is that community colleges could easily build up outstanding faculties if they could surmount their unreasonable-and anachronistic-fear of applicants for positions who hold the PhD.Bryan Pfaffenberger Knox College
(Correspondenceu anthropology newsletter
Profit takes many forms and accrues 'o schol ars and nonprofit organizations as well as M business organizations The Association tow larly facilitates contact between the private sector and anthropologists and the AN attempts (o improve communication MIWMH profession*' anthropologists in every settingWith open commumcation lines, individuals are tree to M*? mine whether they will cooperate and to set out" ditions, including tees for professional sennets-EJl CORRESPONDENCE continued on p U
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