Yaxhá — Plaza C North Pyramid and Lakeside Pyramids (Petén, Guatemala)
Yaxhá · Yaxha · North Pyramid C-1 · Lakeside plazas
Preclassic to Late Classic (600 BCE–900 CE)·Maya (Yaxhá–Naranjo rivalry)·🇬🇹 Petén Department, Yaxhá Lake, Guatemala
About
About Yaxhá — Plaza C North Pyramid and Lakeside Pyramids (Petén, Guatemala)
Major Petén lakeside Maya city (600 BCE–900 CE) between Yaxhá and Sacnab lakes, rival to Naranjo, covering 3 km² with 9 pyramids. Plaza C North Pyramid C-1 (18 m high, 40x30 m) is north structure of twin-pyramid complex with stela plain — unique to Petén Late Classic twin-pyramid pattern (mirror of Tikal). Eastern Pyramid holds nine vaulted chambers. Causeways link Topoxte island. Dwarfed Yaxhá had 500 structures; stela 31 dated 793 CE. Excavated IDAEH-German Commission since 1988, partly restored for park.
Why it mattersBest-preserved twin-pyramid outside Tikal; lake-adapted Maya urbanism bridging Tikal–Naranjo corridor.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Yaxhá vs Naranjo war chronology on Hieroglyphic Stairway
Theories
- 01Twin-pyramid microcosm of Petén politics: north-south duality
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.600–900 CE (Late Classic florescence), foundation Preclassic 600 BCE
- Period
- Preclassic to Late Classic (600 BCE–900 CE)
- Culture
- Maya (Yaxhá–Naranjo rivalry)
- Builders
- Maya (Yaxhá dynasty)
- Purpose
- Twin-pyramid ritual staging for k’atun ending ceremonies and lake cult
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600–900 CE (Late Classic florescence), foundation Preclassic 600 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1024 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
17.0705° N · 89.4020° W · 250 m · 2 mapped features
Plaza C North Pyramid (C-1)
pyramid18 m north pyramid of twin complex with stela altar pair
17.0705° N · 89.4020° WPlaza C South Pyramid (C-2)
pyramid18 m south twin pyramid mirroring north across stela plain, 40 m south
17.0698° N · 89.4020° W
Gallery