history

Coclé dig site turns up treasure before closing

LA PRENSA

discovery: Tombs offer insight into life in Pre-Colombian societies.1024787

The work being done to reconstruct the pre-Colombian civilization ceremonial center in the Parque Arqueológico El Caño, in the province of Coclé, has been suspended owing to the arrival of the winter rains.

Still, recent discoveries at the excavation site will give archaeologists something to mull over in the meantime. Julia Mayo, the archaeologist in charge of the dig, said that her team had unearthed some "pre-Colombian treasures" during the last four months.

In fact, a total of 50,000 pottery vessels, arrowheads and spears, along with small gold objects have been collected, classified, washed and packaged, and are awaiting delivery to the Dirección de Patrimonio Histórico del Instituto Nacional de Cultural (Inac).

Excavators also discovered 66 stratigraphic units, or remnants of wooden structures in the sediment. Mayo explained the find as evidence that not all of their archaeological sites were once ceremonial graves.

"Studies on the pre-Colombian past reveal many aspects of daily life of Panamanian societies of that era," she said.

The dig site has temporarily been packed with sand bags for the duration of the rainy season, said Mayo, and is expected to reopen in January of next year.

In the meantime, the team of archaeologists will submit reports on their finds to the scientific societies funding the excavations, which include National Geographic, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and two Spanish universities.

Last week, Mayo and her fellow scientists held a workshop at the Parque Arqueológico El Caño to educate Inac staff about the site´s cultural importance.

Mayo said that the park needs not only the commitment of both the community and the private sector, but more "forceful" efforts to continue preserving and enhancing the quality of the educational information offered.

The El Caño excavation site contains vestiges of pre-Colombian civilizations existing between 3000 B.C. and 1600 A.D.