Tikal, one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Mayan civilizations, was once the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. The architecture dates back as far as the 4th century BC, and peaked during the classic period, 200-900 AD. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica as far as the Valley of Mexico. The residential area of Tikal covers an estimated 23 square miles, much of which has not yet been cleared, mapped, or excavated. The population has been estimated between 10,000 and 90,000 and possibly 425,000 in the surrounding area.
And for all you Star Wars fans, Temple I at Tikal appeared in the first Star Wars Movie, Episode IV: A New Hope.
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| The altars in from of the pyramid were used during sacrificial ceremonies. |
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| Un-excavated pyramid - this is what the majority of the ruins looked like before restoration began in the 1880s. |
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| Entering the Great Plaza |
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| The Great Plaza lies at the core of the Tikal site |
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| A koati... |
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| An ocellated turkey....we also saw toucans, parrots, aracaris, woodpeckers, and many others.... |
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| This tree has been tapped to collect chicle - the traditional base for chewing gum. The method is similar to the tapping of latex from the rubber tree. |
Link to all of our pictures from Tikal (...yes, there are more):
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