Code

A province on the Pacific coast of Panama where deep rectangular tombs — especially at the type site of Sitio Conte—have yielded grave goods evidencing a rich ceramic and metallurgical tradition. The extremely fine polychrome pottery is characterized by decoration of intricate geometric patterns and by stylized biomorphic forms. Gold- and tumbaga-working techniques, probably imported from Columbia, include cire perdue casting. Some stylistic congruence with Tairona is recognized in some artefacts, especially in the wing-shaped pendants. In addition to these grave goods, faunal evidence indicates that wife and servant sacrifice took place at the death of an important personage. Dates are largely hypothetical, but Code’s estimated time-span is from c500-1000 ad with some survivals up to the time of the Spanish Conquest.