Preserve the El Cano Archaeological Park & museum

The team at Fundación El Caño dedicated the month of November to finalizing preparations for the highly anticipated exhibition, "The Last Flight of the Shaman" (El Último Vuelo del Chamán). Scheduled for the weekend of November 22, 2024, this exhibition showcased remarkable findings from Tomb 9 in the El Caño Necropolis. The exhibition's title was inspired by the discovery that the tomb’s primary occupant was likely a shaman, offering valuable insight into the region’s ancient spiritual and cultural practices.

Visitors had the unique opportunity to view an array of extraordinary grave goods associated with the shaman, including gold breastplates, figurines, healing tubes crafted from animal bones, ceramics, and artifacts made from resin and sperm whale teeth. The meticulous preparations for the exhibition involved designing the museography, conserving artifacts, crafting specialized supports, and carefully mounting and dismounting objects for display.

Due to overwhelming public interest, the Ministry of Culture extended the exhibition for a second weekend, allowing more visitors to experience these invaluable artifacts firsthand.

-International Recognition and Ongoing Research

Over the past few months, Fundación El Caño has actively shared insights from Tomb 9 and other ongoing investigations. The discoveries have garnered international attention, with Archaeology magazine recognizing the shaman from Tomb 9 as one of the Top 10 Archaeological Finds of 2024. Additionally, the Journal of Archaeological Science published a groundbreaking article titled "Pyrite Tesserae Mosaics from El Caño (750–1100 CE), Panamá: Evidence of Interactions Between the Coclé and Maya Regions”. This study explored the origins of pyrite tesserae mosaic mirrors found within the El Caño Necropolis, shedding light on connections between ancient cultures.

-2025 Excavation Season Begins

In January 2025, Fundación El Caño resumed excavation efforts with the goal of completing work on Tomb 9. Due to time constraints caused by the 2024 rainy season, the shaman and other individuals buried alongside him remained in place. The new excavation season welcomed both new and returning students, ranging from undergraduates beginning their studies to those pursuing advanced research degrees.

Among the new participants:

Beatrice holds a B.A. in Biology (specializing in Genetics and Molecular Biology) from the University of Panama and a Master’s in Biological Anthropology from the University of Barcelona-Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. She will focus on the excavation and identification of human burials. Beatrice has previous field experience. 

Maria, a University of Notre Dame graduate in Anthropology, brings previous field experience from Pompeii and Siddi, Sardinia. Her responsibilities include washing and photographing ceramics and assisting in burial excavations.

Abdiel, an anthropology student at the University of Panama’s School of Humanities, joined Fundación El Caño as a volunteer for the 2025 excavation season, gaining hands-on training in excavation techniques and working alongside professional archaeologists and fellow students.

Amalie, a doctoral student from the University of Kansas, returned to El Caño to further her research. She participated in excavating ceramics potentially related to her thesis while collaborating with anthropology and history students from the University of Panama and the Autonomous University of Chiriquí.

This cross-cultural collaboration enhances academic exchange and underscores the importance of teamwork in uncovering the rich history of the El Caño region.

Fundación El Caño remains committed to unraveling the mysteries of the past and sharing its discoveries with the world. Stay connected for updates on our latest findings.