Barriles, Archaeological site in Chiriquí Province, Panama.
Barriles is an archaeological site in the Chiriquí highlands with a collection of stone sculptures, ceramics, and ancient tools scattered across elevated terrain. The location sits at about 1200 meters elevation and shows the remains of an earlier settlement center.
The site was a major settlement center between 300 and 900 CE with a population of around 1000 people. Archaeological excavations have shown that people actively used and inhabited this place during that period.
The stone objects here show how pre-Columbian communities were organized and what role religious practices played in their daily life. You can still see today how the arrangement of graves and artifacts reveals information about social order.
The site sits on elevated terrain and requires appropriate gear and physical preparation for exploration. It helps to hire a local guide to understand the layout and identify the various discovery areas across the grounds.
The place got its name from distinctive stone vessels discovered in the 1920s that show the specialized craftsmanship of its former residents. These objects give insight into the skill and daily use of stone elements in the community.
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