El Mirador
17°45′18″N 89°55′14″W / 17.75500°N 89.92056°W
Pyramid of La Danta Art of El Mirador Temple Jaguar Paw Temple Pyramid of La Danta in 3D Preview warning: Page using Template:Multiple image with unknown parameter "color" | |
Location within Mesoamerica Location within Guatemala | |
| Location | San Andrés, Guatemala |
|---|---|
| Region | El Petén |
| Coordinates | 17°45′18″N 89°55′14″W / 17.75500°N 89.92056°W |
| History | |
| Founded | 6th century BC |
| Abandoned | 9th century AD |
| Periods | Middle Preclassic to Terminal Classic |
| Cultures | Maya civilization |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Ian Graham, Bruce H. Dahlin, Ray T. Matheny, Carlos Morales-Aguilar |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Early Maya, Central Peten |
El Mirador (which translates as 'The Lookout', 'The Viewpoint', or 'The Belvedere') is a large pre-Columbian Middle and Late Preclassic (1000 BC – 250 AD) Maya settlement, located in the north of the modern department of El Petén, Guatemala. It is part of the Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin of northern Guatemala. El Mirador is considered to be the most important complex of ancient cities from the Preclassic period. It features causeways and pyramids, among which the pyramid of La Danta stands out, one of the tallest and most voluminous in the world. The site is estimated to comprise some 800 cities, and the location of La Danta was the epicenter of trade, religious ceremonies, and the royal residence of rulers. Furthermore, the city was interconnected with others via 13 causeways, representing its power over the other Mayan cities in the region. El Mirador has white roads measuring 40 meters wide and between 2 and 5 meters high, forming what researchers consider the world's first highway system or superhighway.