Tikal

Tikal is an ancient Maya city located in the Petén Department of northern Guatemala. It lies within Tikal National Park in the Maya Biosphere Reserve and was one of the most powerful urban centers of the Maya Classic Period, flourishing roughly between AD 200 and 900. The city dominated a large area of the lowlands and played a key role in regional trade networks, politics, and religion.

The archaeological site features a large ceremonial core known as the Great Plaza, surrounded by monumental pyramids, palaces, and temples. Among its best-known buildings are Temple I, the Temple of the Great Jaguar, and Temple II, the Temple of the Masks, which face each other across the plaza. Other major groups include the North and South Acropolis, the Central Acropolis, and a large ballcourt. The architecture and inscriptions reveal a society organized around dynastic rulership, ritual practice, and long-distance connections with other Maya centers.

Tikal began to decline in the late 8th century, and by the 9th century large-scale urban occupation waned as the city was gradually abandoned. Over the subsequent centuries, dense jungle growth helped to preserve and obscure many structures until renewed archaeological interest in the 19th and 20th centuries. The site was designated a national park in 1955 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 in recognition of its historical significance and its exceptional ceremonial architecture, which provides insight into Maya political and cultural life.

---