Tikal was one of the most powerful city-states in the Americas. Tikal (in Guatemala) was inhabited between roughly 800 B.C. and 900 A.D., and was home to 100,000 people at its height. The civilization that flourished for at least 1,200 years at the ancient Maya city of Tikal (the original name of which was probably Mutal or Yax Mutal means "Place of Whispers") collapsed, more or less simultaneously with most other important Maya centers of the Classic period, at the end of the ninth century of our era.
Though magnificent, the ruins of Tikal visible today represent but a fraction of the original city-state. During its heyday, archaeologists say, "downtown" Tikal was about six square miles, though research indicates that the city-state's population may have sprawled over at least 47 square miles. Yet most of Tikal has not even been excavated.
In 1939 two explorers John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood reported hearing rumors of a living ancient city in the middle of the tropical jungle, however they did no further investigation. It was not until nearly 10 years later in 1848, that the first formal expedition was mounted by Modesto Méndez and Ambrosio Tut. Their report on the expedition was not published until 1853.
The first serious archaeological work at the site of Tikal was carried out by the Englishman Alfred P. Maudslay, who visited the ruins in 1881 and 1882. His superb recording work (which included clearing vast swathes of forest to free vistas of plazas and temples) was published shortly after the turn of the twentieth century as part of a special section, dedicated to archaeology, of the monumental compendium Biologia Centrali Americana.
The Guatemalan government made the site into a national park in 1955. The University of Pennsylvania did the first major excavation from 1956 to 1979.
The city and surrounding areas covers an area of 223 square miles, though only 10 are excavated. More than 4,000 structures exist on those 10 square miles, including temples, pyramids, palaces, residences, ballcourts, terraces, causeways, and even a sweat bath, all in various states of decay and some not unearthed at all.
The temples are mainly constructed out of limestone, which was very important for construction because it also provided lime for stucco and plaster. Pyramids represent the sacred mountains where it was believed that maize came from. The temples used to be covered in rich color patterns and some temples were even painted completely red. The east plaza was the main plaza in the Classic era, although today the Great Plaza is the center of the site.
Seventy stelae, originally painted red, have been located around this ruin. These stelae, each of which once had an altar beside it, commemorate the rulers of Tikal, and their faces can still be seen today carved on one side of the large stone monuments.The nearby Temple of the Giant Jaguar is a 100-foot high pyramid concealing the tomb of Ahau Cacau, the divine ruler of Tikal. Other noteworthy temples and plazas: the Temple of the Masks, Temple of the Jaguar Priest, the North Acropolis, and to the south of the great plaza complex, the Central Acropolis Here there are 42 palaces, all excellent examples of Mayan architecture.
The Great Plaza is unquestionably the heart of ancient Tikal. It’s a
large courtyard surrounded by the single largest concentration of structures at
Tikal. Temple I’s limestone structure towers 145 feet high. Directly across the Plaza is Temple II at 120 feet. To the right stands the North Acropolis, complete with
dozens of stela (carved stones) and altars. Completing the Plaza is the Central
Acropolis on the left.
Temple I was originally completed around 700 AD. All was done without the benefit of the wheel(one of the few human achievements that escaped the Maya). The civilization had very advanced mathematicians and astronomers, and developed a calendar system more accurate than both the Gregorian and Julian calendars. They formulated the concept of zero and developed an early type of hieroglyph writing.
Student archaeologist Nicholas M. Hellmuth had beginner's luck to discover one of the most richly stocked royal burials of the entire ancient Maya realm. He accomplished this while still a student at Harvard, while working on the University of Pennsylvania archaeological project at Tikal, Guatemala. It is rare that an archaeologist has an opportunity to find the burial chamber of one of the great kings of an ancient civilization.
The Tomb of the Jade Jaguar at Tikal included the largest pyrite mosaic mirror yet found in all of Mesoamerica, the greatest number of pottery vessels of any Late Classic Maya burial known in the lowlands, and more jade jewelry than any tomb other than that of Pacal's of Palenque or in Temple I of Tikal.
The tomb contained painted wooden bowls, a lidded wooden box of hematite paint, a baroque pearl necklace, two sting ray spine blood letting perforators, an "alabaster" bowl, a wooden vase sheathed in jade mosaic, a complete "diviner's kit" of shaman's utensils, plus at least two complete feline hides--sections of this leather were still stiff.
Temple I, of the Great Jaguar: closing the Great Plaza on the east, the temple is 148 feet high (45 m.), and was built around 700 A.D..
Temple II, of the Masks: this temple forms the Great Plaza's west side and is 125 feet high (38 m.).
Temple III, of the Great Priest: located west of Temple II, it is about 165 feet high (50 m.), and it was built around 810 A.D.. An original wood-carved lintel remains with a central figure dressed in a jaguar skin.
Temple IV, of the Two-headed Serpent, is situated west of the Great Plaza, and at 213 feet (65 m.), is the highest structure of Tikal. Visitors can go up to the base of the cresting and enjoy a beautiful view of Tikal.
Temple V, to the south of the Central Acropolis, is 187 feet high (57 m.) and was built around 750 A.D.. Temple VI, of the Inscriptions, lies at the far south end of the Méndez road. Its cresting contains the longest hieroglyphic text in Tikal. In front of the temple are Stela 21 and Altar 9. Currently in Tikal there are three groups of buildings, each of which have been named an acropolis.
