Excavations show Diquis spheres flanked mounds, ramps and deliberate burials

October 17, 2026General

Source: I Investigated the Costa Rica Stone Spheres. The Answer Surprised Me by Curious Being

Site mentioned

📍 Finca 6

At Finca 6, archaeologists uncovered artificial mounds up to 30 m across with retaining walls and trapezoidal ramps — and spheres set at either side of the entrance ramps. At Batambal, spheres of 70–95 cm were found along with 16 cm and 25 cm examples buried beside deliberately broken pieces, hinting at ritual deposition 🏛️🙃

Key facts

At Finca 6, one of the best preserved sphere-bearing settlements, archaeologists uncovered two artificial mounds up to 30 m in diameter, faced with retaining walls and trapezoidal ramps built of river stone and cobbles.
At Finca 6 the spheres were placed at either side of entrance ramps, flanking the approach to elevated elite structures, giving the clearest evidence that spheres functioned as monumental prestige markers within settlement design.
At Batambal, excavations exposed rectangular cobblestone structures and four spheres measuring 70 to 95 cm in diameter, two of them split open.
At Batambal, small spheres 16 cm and 25 cm across were found buried alongside fragments of deliberately broken sculptures, with intentional breakage and burial suggesting a special, possibly ritual activity.
At Alto Naranjal, home to the 24-ton sphere, a paved area lay beside the object, and stone tools believed used in sphere production, pottery, stone debris and a possible hearth indicate a workshop rather than a ceremonial setting.
At Grahovo II a single gabbro sphere sits about 100 m from a group of mounds in an area rich in ceramic material.
The video summarises these finds as showing spheres placed in architectural and ritual contexts, associated with social and political importance, and sometimes buried with the dead.