Sitio Barriles

Barriles is a site on farmland near Volcán where ploughing and later excavation turned up carved stone: statues of figures carried on the shoulders of others, large barrel-shaped stones that gave the site its name, and metates with carved rims. The material dates from before the eruption of Volcán Barú that buried the area. The farm family runs the visits themselves, and several of the best pieces are in the national museum rather than here.

History

Matthew Stirling investigated the site in the late 1940s and recovered fragments of the Barriles statues and the large metate, and Alain Ichon and Wolfgang Haberland studied its pottery in the 1950s and 1960s. In the early 1970s it became part of Olga Linares's survey of the Río Chiriquí Viejo valley, and in 2001 a German-Panamanian team excavated a structure that suggested Barriles was a village rather than an empty ceremonial centre; that excavation is left open for visitors (Wikipedia, Barriles).

What to look for

• The carved figures - statues of men carried on the shoulders of others.
• The barrel stones - the drum-shaped carvings the site is named for.
• The metates - grinding stones with carved rims and figures.
• The family tours - visits run by the farm household on the site.

When to go

December to April is drier and easier underfoot. Tours run through the day when someone is available. Calling ahead is worthwhile.

Things to know

The best pieces are in Panama City's national museum, not here. The site is informally presented and interpretation depends on who is guiding. Some material on display is reproduction.

Nearby

Volcán is nearby, and Lagunas de Volcán are close by.

Key facts