Cival
Cival Mirador Basin · Cival Petén
Middle Preclassic 900 BCE–300 BCE to Late Preclassic 300 BCE–250 CE·Maya (Holmul region Preclassic)·🇬🇹 Petén, Flores Municipality, Guatemala
About
About Cival
Early Holmul River city 40 km E of Tikal: North Acropolis Triadic Group I with colossal stucco masks (200 BCE) and 335 m E-Group, extensively excavated by Estrada-Belli Vanderbilt-BU. Demonstrates Holmul region Preclassic florescence 900 BCE predating Tikal. Abandoned at Preclassic collapse c.250 CE, later minor Classic reoccupation.
Why it mattersEarliest well-dated Triadic acropolis in Holmul basin (800 BCE) rewriting Preclassic lowland Maya origins.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01How Cival stucco masks survived 2000 years under jungle humus
- 02Why Cival abandoned at 250 CE while neighboring Holmul persisted
Theories
- 01Holmul cradle outpost for early Maya divine kingship
- 02Water-cult center on Holmul swamp controlling Preclassic raised fields
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.900 BCE–250 CE (Middle to Late Preclassic)
- Period
- Middle Preclassic 900 BCE–300 BCE to Late Preclassic 300 BCE–250 CE
- Culture
- Maya (Holmul region Preclassic)
- Builders
- Maya
- Purpose
- Middle Preclassic Triadic city with earliest known E-Group and stucco masks on Holmul River terrace, precursor to Tikal
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.900 BCE–250 CE (Middle to Late Preclassic)
Initial construction
250 CE
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
17.3840° N · 89.5410° W · 260 m · 2 mapped features
North Acropolis Triadic Group I
pyramid18 m Triadic with colossal 4 m stucco masks 200 BCE
17.3850° N · 89.5400° WE-Group astronomical platform
platform335 m E-Group precursor aligning equinox
17.3830° N · 89.5420° W