Preserve the El Cano Archaeological Park & museum

This quarter has seen a continuation of work on various investigations and diffusion of the updates on those investigations.

Investigations

Some of the investigations include one being conducted by biolagical anthropologist Beatrice Di Biase. Beatrice, has been analyzing the teeth recovered from tombs 1,2,4, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Her research is about verifying if the individuals buried in the necropolis are from a single or various communities. To do this, Beatrice has to measure each tooth, taking measurements from five different points. In any teeth that are fragmented, she uses a solution of Paraloid B72 in acetone to repair the teeth and then stores them in specially created molds of Edafoam lined with Tyvek (acid free paper) to protect them from further damage. This investigation is detailed and will take all of 2026 for Beatrice to complete it.

Physical anthropologist Alexa Hancock is revisiting an investigation she conducted in 2017, “A Case Study of an Infant Urn Burial in the Necropolis of El Cano”.  She had and presented her results of the investigation at that time at the 56^th International Congress of Americanistas in Salamanca, Spain. At the time of the investigation radiocarbon dating was not possible. It was decided to revisit the infant for radiocarbon dating, isotopic analysis and attempt to extract DNA. The radiocarbon date returned as 1151-1234 AD, and isotopic analysis was successful. The results for DNA extraction are still pending. With this information, an investigation will be done to identify the origins of both the newborn infant and mother.

In addition to the investigation into the infant, Alexa is completing her analysis of the individuals buried in tomb T9 as well as an investigation of signs of dental care in the Pre Colombian Cocle culture.

Diffusion

Dr. Julia Mayo spoke at the XX National Conference of Science and Technology (APANAC 2025). Julia´s talk, titled: "Pyrite Tesserae Mosaic Mirrors from El Caño (750–1100 AD): Indicators of Ancient Interaction between Coclé and the Maya Area"was a fascinating journey into the past to understand how archaeological objects reflect networks of exchange, symbolism and connections between civilizations

The El Caño Foundation hosted Dr. Avto Gogichaishvili for a presentation. He is a world leader in the study of geomagnetism. With a degree in Physics from Georgia and a PhD from France, he is now a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Geophysics at UNAM, where he heads the National Archaeomagnetic Service. Dr. Gogichaishvili´s lecture "Archaeomagnetism: science and time in archaeological materials," explains in an educational way how this discipline allows us to date and understand our past from the magnetic imprint preserved in ceramics and other archaeological materials.

Dr. Carlos Mayo gave a lecture at the University of Panama entitled “100 Years Between Looting and Science: El Caño (1925–2025).” During his talk at the Faculty of Humanities, Department of Anthropology, Dr. Mayo took us on a journey through time to explore how archaeology has evolved: from the first discoveries driven by curiosity (and sometimes looting!) to the rigorous science that today reveals the secrets of Panama’s past.

 Various Activities

The El Caño Foundation has begun developing a new exhibit to be displayed at the El Caño Museum. Elías Zaldivar has been working on the reconstruction and conservation of ceramic pieces that will be on display. Other artifacts made of stone and other materials are still being selected to be included in the new exhibit.

Students from the University of Panama that are majoring in film and cinema are creating a documentary about the Foundation. Their project will cover the preparations for the new exhibit as well as the 2026 excavation season and the investigations being conducted by the various team members and students.

Preparations for the 2026 excavation season are underway. This season a new tomb is being started, tomb T3. The site has been flooded due to the rainy season, so the water needs to be pumped out, and the old dirt bags placed at the end of the 2025 excavation season removed. In the laboratory, space was being organized in order to have room to receive whatever materials are uncovered during the excavation season.