Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua

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Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua: A Window into Ancient Maya Civilization

The Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua, located in the department of Izabal in southeastern Guatemala, offer a captivating glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the ancient Maya civilization. This medium-sized site, spanning roughly 3 square kilometers (1.2 square miles), is situated along the lower Motagua River, with the ceremonial center approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the river's north bank.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Inhabited since the 2nd century A.D., Quirigua had become during the reign of Cauac Sky (723–84) the capital of an autonomous and prosperous state. The ruins of Quirigua contain some outstanding 8th-century monuments and an impressive series of carved stelae and sculpted calendars that constitute an essential source for the study of Mayan civilization.

Encyclopedia Record: Quiriguá

Quiriguá is an ancient Maya archaeological site in the department of Izabal in south-eastern Guatemala. It is a medium-sized site covering approximately 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) along the lower Motagua River, with the ceremonial center about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the north bank. During the Maya Classic Period (AD 200–900), Quiriguá was situated at the juncture of several important trade routes. The site was occupied by 200, construction on the acropolis had begun by about 550, and an explosion of grander construction started in the 8th century. All construction had halted by about 850, except for a brief period of reoccupation in the Early Postclassic. Quiriguá shares its architectural and sculptural styles with the nearby Classic Period city of Copán, with whose history it is closely entwined.

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