New LiDAR mapping conducted in the dense jungles of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula has identified a sprawling urban complex belonging to the Gran Coclé culture. The survey revealed a series of fortified wharves and stone-lined canals designed to facilitate large-scale maritime trade along the Pacific coast.
Archaeologists believe this site served as a logistics mega-hub for the distribution of gold, emeralds, and ceremonial pottery. The LiDAR data also shows evidence of elevated residential platforms and a central plaza aligned to the summer solstice, indicating a highly organized social structure.