Nakbe Structure 1 Pyramid (Kan Mirador)
Nakbe Structure 1 · Nakbé Pyramid · Nakbé Structure I
Late Preclassic (Mirador Basin Preclassic)·Maya (Preclassic Mirador)·🇬🇹 Petén, Nakbe — Mirador Basin (north of El Mirador), Guatemala
About
About Nakbe Structure 1 Pyramid (Kan Mirador)
Earliest Maya monumental pyramid: Nakbe Structure 1 (Mirador Basin) — Late Preclassic 400–200 BCE, ~45 m high triadic pyramid (base 80×80 m) built entirely in Preclassic before Tikal existed, topped with triadic 3-temple group and stelae plaza. Beside it the Nakbe 13m causeway connects to El Mirador 13 km south (sacbe). Excavated by Richard Hansen (UCLA–Mirador Project) 1987–. Its construction proves Maya lowland urbanism 1000 years before Classic peak. Mask flanks on pyramid terraces with deity heads (early Popol Vuh iconography).
Why it mattersWorld's earliest large Maya pyramid (400 BCE); demonstrates lowland Maya achieved monumentality 1000 years before Classic; masks show early Popol Vuh.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Nakbe abandoned at Preclassic collapse 150 CE
- 02Relation to El Mirador 45 m La Danta 13 km south
Theories
- 01Mirador Basin was cradle of Maya kingship before Tikal
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. 400–200 BCE (Late Preclassic)
- Period
- Late Preclassic (Mirador Basin Preclassic)
- Culture
- Maya (Preclassic Mirador)
- Builders
- Maya of Nakbe
- Purpose
- Triadic temple-pyramid for early kingship ritual
- Abandoned
- c. 150 CE (Preclassic collapse)
- Rediscovered
- 1930s (Lundell air survey) / excavated 1987 Hansen
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 400–200 BCE (Late Preclassic)
Initial construction
c. 1313 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
17.6789° N · 89.8669° W · 280 m · 3 mapped features
Structure 1 triadic pyramid
pyramid45 m high triadic Preclassic pyramid 80 m base
17.6789° N · 89.8669° WCauseway to El Mirador
causeway13 km Preclassic sacbe south
17.6740° N · 89.8680° WMask flank east
maskStucco deity mask on pyramid terrace
17.6789° N · 89.8667° W
Gallery