Overview
- Archaeologists led by Julia Mayo reported a burial dating to roughly 800–1,000 years ago at the El Cano site near Nata, about 200 kilometers southwest of Panama City.
- Human remains were found with two gold bracelets, two earrings, and a chest pendant decorated with bat and crocodile motifs.
- Finely decorated pottery accompanied the grave goods, supporting the assessment that the individual held elite status.
- Mayo said the assemblage indicates the highest‑ranked person in the group and reflects beliefs that death marked a transition preserving social standing.
- The Ministry of Culture noted El Cano was used for interments over roughly two centuries and described the discovery as of great importance for national archaeology.