Osa was home to “luxury” pre-Columbian housing compound

June 21^st, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) In what is now Finca Grijalba, in Ciudad Cortés de Osa, stood a “luxury” housing complex that was built at least 1,200 years ago.

A team of archaeologists from the Nation Museum are working to explore, excavate, and restore what they claim was a pre-Columbian housing complex for the wealthy and powerful of the time.

In an area of approximately eight hectares, archaeologists have already uncovered 11 stone structures.

Archaeologist Francisco Corrales said that the structures at the site reveal a feature never seen before – the walls of the structures are covered with some type of limestone coating or ‘plating.’

While more research is needed to determine why the limestone was used instead of river stones and other material that are seen at other finds, archaeologists believe that the limestone coating could be an indicator of social distinction.

The site was undoubtedly residential in nature – archaeologists have found ceramics, vases, pots, grinding stones, and household utensils at the site.

A stone sphere measuring 1.15 meters in diameter was also found at the site, and will be excavated to determine its condition.