The Top 15 Mayan Sites in Central America
By MARINA KUPERMAN
Updated on 06/03/19
The Maya of Central America had one of the greatest ancient civilizations of the world. It consisted of hundreds of large and rich cities spread over the south of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and western Honduras.
Between 250–900 C.E., the Maya civilization was at its peak. It was during this period that the most amazing and iconic cities were built as a result of their advances in construction. It was also during this time that the Mayans made historic discoveries in fields like astronomy.
By the end of that period and the major Mayan centers started to go into decline for reasons unknown to historians and scientists. The decline resulted in the abandonment of the large cities. By the time the Spanish discovered the region, the Mayans were already living in smaller, less powerful towns. Mayan culture and knowledge were in the process of being lost.
Many of the old cities were claimed by the forest as time passed, which ultimately preserved many of the structures that have been found to date. While there are hundreds of Mayan archaeological sites in Central America, here are some of our favorites.
01
of 15
Xunantunich (Belize)
Xunantunich is located in Cayo District near the Guatemalan border. It was once a ceremonial center from the late classic period. Its name, which means “stone woman,” is a reference to the ghost of a woman that is said to inhabit the site since the early 1890s.
Xunantunich boasts six plazas and 25 palaces. It is considered the second most important Mayan site in Belize after Caracol.
More:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/mayan-sites-in-central-america-4056341
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Every day I discover how much even less I knew than I ever realized! I've never heard of this place, either. It was as if it never existed until now. Clearly it has existed an enormously long time. Every day I am amazed and alarmed even more! Holy smoke.
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