Published on Wednesday, February 12, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A series of tombs containing indigenous skeletons and artifacts from the pre-Columbian era have been discovered in Cartago Province, the municipality announced. 

The find was made in the Agua Caliente District on private property where land was being excavated for a residential development. Workers reported the discovery to authorities after noticing human bones and clay pots with indigenous illustrations. 

In addition to the burial sites, were uncovered the foundations of structures believed to be homes from an ancient settlement predating European colonization. 

Cartago Mayor Mario Redondo-Poveda noted that the site is near land belonging to the Archeological Monument Land of the National Museum, where previous indigenous settlements have been found. He emphasized that the area is protected as part of Costa Rica’s national archaeological heritage.  

“These findings could be a vital part of Cartago’s historical and cultural heritage,” Redondo said. “It’s essential to rescue and preserve them as part of a plan to promote historical and cultural tourism.” 

Experts from the National Museum’s Department of Anthropology and History will explore the site to determine the tombs' exact age, assess the full extent of the site and determine appropriate preservation measures. 

According to the National Museum, archaeological evidence suggests humans first arrived in Costa Rica between 7000 and 10,000 B.C. In the Turrialba Valley (now part of Cartago Province), sites have been found containing quarry and tradesman tools such as bifaces. 

Before European colonization, Costa Rica was not a unified territory but home to diverse indigenous groups, each with distinct cultures and levels of development. Tribes such as the Chorotegas, Huetars, and Bruncas inhabited the region. 

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