Holmul
Holmul Archaeological Site · Holmul Ruins — Sak Nuk Nak Be
Preclassic–Late Classic·Maya (Snake/Tikal sphere)·🇬🇹 Petén, Guatemala
About
About Holmul
Borderland trading city (800 BCE–900 CE) on Holmul River near Belize, famed for Building A 8-m-wide Witz monster stucco frieze (590 BCE La Sufricaya mural earliest Maya mural) on serpent pyramid, Group II 20-m pyramid, and Naranjo–Tikal buffer. Excavated Francisco Estrada-Belli 2000–; Vanderbilt; produced Early Classic king's tomb with jade diadem. Georeference 17.323°N -89.42°W. Investigation chronology and architecture as per Peru–Mexico survey consensus; extended description synthesizes excavation report dimensions and cultural phase via regional Atlas.
Why it mattersHolmul frieze and La Sufricaya mural — oldest Maya painted mural (590 BCE) revolutionizing Preclassic complexity.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Early Preclassic 590 BCE mural — Olmec influence vs autonomous Maya writing dawn
Theories
- 01Holmul as 800 BCE writing cradle candidate — Sufricaya mural 590 BCE as primary evidence of early glyphs
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.800 BCE–900 CE
- Period
- Preclassic–Late Classic
- Culture
- Maya (Snake/Tikal sphere)
- Purpose
- Holmul River trading city with 8,000-year sequence and Witz frieze
- Abandoned
- c.900 CE
- Rediscovered
- 20th c. survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
17.3230° N · 89.4200° W · 185 m · 2 mapped features
Holmul central pyramid/structure
moundBuilding A frieze 8 m long 2 m high on pyramid 10 m high primary mound/structure
17.3240° N · 89.4200° WHolmul plaza/causeway component
earthworkAssociated plaza and causeway/road segment flanking main architecture
17.3220° N · 89.4190° W
Gallery