1,200-Year-Old Tomb Unveils Golden Sperm Whale Treasures in Panama

750 to 800 AD. Panama, Coclé Province, El Caño Archaeological Park. Gold-covered sperm whale teeth earrings are located in a tomb. They were crafted in the shapes of crocodiles, humans, and animals. This makes sense because the province where the tomb was located lies on the Gulf of Parita. It is only 127 km from the continental shelf which would be ideal for Cachalots to strand. They were not actively hunted by the indigenous peoples so whale strandings were the likely source of the cetacean material.