Published on Thursday, July 10, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A team of archaeologists from the National Museum has uncovered a significant collection of pre-Columbian artifacts in the district of Palmar Sur, located in Osa canton, Puntarenas province.

The discovery was made at the site of new building of the Palmar Sur Airport is currently under construction.

According to the museum, the excavation effort covered the entire 131-hectare construction zone and cost approximately $560,000. The project was led by the museum’s Department of Anthropology and History and funded by the Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA).

Among the findings were more than 1,000 ceramic fragments and 115 complete ceramic pieces, dating from A.D. 800 to 1550. These artifacts confirm the presence of native groups from that era, specifically originating from Chiriquí Province, located in present-day Panama.

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Education notes that the Ngäbe people, also known as Guaymí, currently reside in Puntarenas province and trace their ancestry to Panama’s Chiriquí region. Today, communities such as Potrero Grande and Puerto Jiménez are home to many of these descendants.

The migration of Chiriquí natives into Costa Rica continued into the early 20th century, occurring through both overland and maritime routes.

Each year on May 26, Costa Rica observes "Día de la Persona Chiricana" (Day of the Chiriquí Person), honoring the traditions, people, and cultural heritage of this group. The holiday is celebrated nationwide, with special recognition in Potrero Grande, known for its strong Chiriquí identity.

The National Museum also highlights that the first human settlements in Costa Rica date back to between 7,000 and 10,000 B.C. In the Turrialba Valley, now part of Cartago province, archaeologists have discovered early stone tools, including bifacial instruments used for quarrying and crafting.

Prior to European colonization, Costa Rica was not a unified nation but a mosaic of indigenous cultures, each with its own social structure and level of development. Prominent tribes included the Chorotega, Huetar, and Brunca, who inhabited various regions across the country.

In a separate recent find, archaeologists uncovered a series of pre-Columbian tombs containing indigenous skeletons and ceremonial artifacts in Cartago Province.

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