Kaminaljuyu

Kaminaljuyu (pronounced /kæminælˈhuːjuː/; from Kʼicheʼʼ, "The Hill of the Dead") is a Pre-Columbian site of the Maya civilization located in Guatemala City. Primarily occupied from 1500 BC to 1200 AD, it has been described as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the New World—although the extant remains are distinctly unimpressive. Debate continues about its size, integration, and role in the surrounding Valley of Guatemala and the Southern Maya area.

Kaminaljuyu
Kaminaljuyu and other Preclassic sites
RaceMaya
ReligionMaya
Geographical rangeSouthern Maya area
PeriodPreclassic and Classic
Dates1500 BC to 1200 CE
CharacteristicsUse of hardened adobe to build instead of limestone

Kaminaljuyu, when first mapped scientifically, comprised some 200 platforms and pyramidal mounds. The site was largely swallowed up by real estate developments. A portion of the Classic Period center is preserved as a 0.5 square km park—a fraction of the original ruins field size of around 5 km.

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