Excavated at the Sitio Conte archaeological site in Panama, these ear rods were among hundreds of exquisite funerary adornments typically found buried alongside high-status men, likely leaders of the Coclé culture. Denoting the power and rank of their wearer, each ear rod was crafted from precious greenstone and sheathed at either end in hammered gold. Coclé metallurgists were particularly masterful and were known for their beautiful mixed media works, in which they combined two or more materials. Here, the artist combined gold with greenstone, two of the most precious materials in Mesoamerica. Found in select locations such as the rivers of southern Guatemala and traded over long distances, greenstone was associated with water and maize. These gold and greenstone ear rods were worn in pairs and would have glimmered as their wearer moved or spoke, drawing attention to the face.