The Darien Chest

This research examines the colonial history of Panamá by analyzing cultural artefacts and documents from various institutions, including the General Archive of Indies in Seville. The Darien Chest serves as an entry point for this inquiry, given its intricate connections between Scotland and Panama. The chest symbolized the failure of Scottish colonialization in Panama, which led to the 1707 Act of Union. The project aims to identify weak affects within the documents, uncovering silences and contradictions within historical archives. By redrawing a more complex and mestizo story, the project seeks to represent minor voices and their material histories ignored in mainstream narratives, fostering a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of Panamá's colonial history.