Cartago Valley

Many people book a flight to Costa Rica for their share of adventure, waterfalls, volcanoes and what not. But not too many venture for artifacts and archaeology, but Costa Rica, a destination that Christopher Columbus described as the “rich coast” is rich in pre-Columbian history.

If you’re into lost cities, cultural wonders and artifacts, this is an excellent spot to visit. Here are some archeological wonders you can expect to find in Costa Rica:

Guayabo National Monument: This is the only archaeological park in the country, and the largest site in Costa Rica of its kind. It is located a short distance from the city of Turrialba (about a two-hour drive from Costa Rica). Because of the date of civilization in Costa Rica (dating back all the way to 1000 B.C.), this park has seen several milestone excavations from cobbled roads to aqueducts. This is a must see for the archaeology buff.

Cartago Valley: The city of Cartago has seen a large amount of archaeological excavations done around 100 years ago. Located near the Irazu volcano, the Cartago Valley demonstrates evidence of the rich ancient history of Costa Rica dating back to the Pre-Columbian Era.

Pottery and Metalworking: If you’re an archaeology buff, expect to see a lot of gold artifacts and pottery from way back when (Pre-Columbian) in museums on archaeological sites. The art of gold working was practiced in the country decades before the Spanish conquest.

Religious Icons: Several South American “groups” emerged during the pre-Columbian period and these included the Caribs on the Caribbean and others who were predominantly nomadic hunters and fishermen. In terms of artifacts, they developed several religious icons as well as amulets for good luck and wore pendants with animal imagery.

Spherical Granite Balls: Known as bolas in local lingo, these were found in a large number of burial sites in Costa Rica. Some are tiny and some are huge and can weigh up to 16 tons. The purpose of these is still unknown but they are beautifully polished and very round.

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Photo: Fred Hsu