February
23
/ 2026
Archaeologists working at El Caño Archaeological Park in Panama's Coclé province have completed the excavation of a spectacular elite tomb dating to over 1,000 years ago, filled with gold ornaments, pectorals decorated with bat and crocodile imagery, and finely crafted ceramic vessels. Announced in February 2026, the find — officially designated Tomb 3 — is being described by Panama's Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) as one of the most significant contributions to the study of pre-Hispanic societies in the Central American isthmus in recent decades. The discovery deepens our understanding of the powerful chiefdoms that once flourished across the region and adds yet another extraordinary chapter to an already extraordinary site. Gold-Filled Tomb of Pre-Hispanic Lord Unearthed in Panama Mysteries of
