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Secondary sourceBook1887

The Use of Gold and Other Metals Among Ancient Inhabitants of Chiriquí

William Henry Holmes · 1887

An 1887 archaeological study of pre-Columbian metalwork from Panama, describing the gold objects Spanish explorers encountered in the region Balboa crossed.

Background on the pre-Columbian gold and metalwork of the Panamanian region Balboa and his expedition crossed.

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The Use of Gold and Other Metals Among Ancient Inhabitants of ChiriquíPDF · 42 pages
William H. Holmes, The Use of Gold and Other Metals Among Ancient Inhabitants of Chiriquí, Isthmus of Darien, 1887.

About this source

What it is

This is an 1887 study written by William H. Holmes for the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of Ethnology. It examines gold, copper, and bronze objects made by ancient inhabitants of the Chiriquí region of Panama, including figures of humans, birds, and animals, and includes illustrations of these artifacts.

Why it matters

Although this work is not about Balboa directly, it studies the kind of gold and metalwork that existed in Panama long before Europeans arrived — objects that fueled Spanish interest in the region's wealth. It helps students understand the Indigenous societies and resources that conquistadors like Balboa encountered and sought to control.

Look closer

  • What do these metal objects suggest about the skills and beliefs of the people who made them?
  • Why might Spanish explorers have been especially interested in a region known for gold objects like these?
  • How does learning about Indigenous craftsmanship change the way you think about the era of exploration?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Vasco Nunez de Balboa on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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