Tomb more than 1000 years old found in Panama

Archaeologists have uncovered a tomb in Panama dating back over a thousand years, containing human remains accompanied by gold and ceramic artifacts, according to lead researcher Julia Mayo. The find was made at the El Cano archaeological site, located about 200 kilometers southwest of Panama City.

The region has been the focus of archaeological excavations for two decades, revealing remains of pre-Hispanic cultures. In this particular tomb, the skeletal remains were surrounded by gold objects and pottery decorated with traditional motifs, suggesting the individuals were of high status. Mayo explained that the person interred with the most gold “was the one with the highest social status in the group,” and dated the burial to between 800 and 1000 AD.

This discovery adds to the understanding of social hierarchy and burial practices among Panama’s pre-Hispanic societies.

Panama's Ministry of Culture said the discovery was "of great importance for Panamanian archaeology

The individual of highest status at the El Cano archaeological site was buried with two bracelets, two earrings, and pectoral jewellery adorned with bats and crocodiles, highlighting the symbolic or cultural significance of these animals. The site is associated with the societies that inhabited Panama’s central provinces between the 8th and 11th centuries.

“This is where they buried their dead for 200 years,” Mayo noted, emphasizing the site’s long-term use as a burial ground. In addition to the tomb discovered most recently, archaeologists have previously uncovered nine similar tombs, indicating a pattern of high-status interments and a well-established funerary tradition at El Cano.

The skeletal remains were found surrounded by gold objects and pottery decorated with traditional motifs

Panama’s Ministry of Culture described the discovery at the El Cano archaeological site as “of great importance for Panamanian archaeology and the study of pre-Hispanic societies of the Central American isthmus,” highlighting its significance in understanding the region that connects North and South America.

Experts note that the excavations reveal how these societies viewed death—not as a final end, but as a transition to another phase of life in which social status continued to hold significance. The inclusion of elaborate gold and ceramic artifacts in the tombs underscores the continuing recognition of hierarchy and prestige in their funerary practices.