Six Ancient Stone Spheres from Diquís Delta in Costa Rica Excavated

The true purpose of these spheres, however, still eludes archaeologists though there are many theories to account for them, ranging from status symbols to astronomical alignments. But, given that the culture that produced them has left no written records and disappeared soon after the Spanish conquest in 1561 and, moreover, they have been moved from their original location, their intent is likely to remain a mystery, the Ancient Origins article argues.

According to the INAH website , while the Chiriquí Period seems to have produced the majority of the spheres discovered, some belong to an earlier Aguas Buenas period (300 BC–800 AD), indicating a cultural continuity.

The Current Excavation
The latest intervention for the preservation, in situ, of the stone spheres was conducted in Finca or Farm 6 archaeological site located in the canton of Osa in the Puntarenas Province. Here the spheres are known to have suffered damage owing to the rock composition itself, environmental humidity and floods caused by hurricanes and tropical storms, the latest being Hurricane Nate in 2017. The original depredations of the United Fruit Company, of which Finca 6 bore the heaviest brunt, have also left their mark in the form of scratches on the surface of one of the spheres