Holmul (Witzná) Triadic Pyramids
Holmul · Witzná · Holmul-Nakbe region · Group II
Maya Preclassic to Late Classic·Maya (Kanul? Witzná polity)·🇬🇹 Petén, Holmul River basin, Holmul, Guatemala
About
About Holmul (Witzná) Triadic Pyramids
Preclassic to Classic Maya centre at Holmul (Witzná) on Holmul River, famed for Group II triadic Building N (c. 590 CE) with enormous stucco frieze 8 × 3 m — preserved deity masks, feathered serpent, and portrait of king. Preclassic Great Pyramid (Structure A) 20 m high under Classic overbuild, 59-day mural Building B showing 7 Choc figures. Occupied from 800 BCE to 900 CE bridging Mirador collapse to Classic revival. Excavated by Merwin 1911 and Estrada-Belli Boston University 2000–.
Why it mattersOnly site with continuous Preclassic–Classic pyramid overbuild revealing stylistic transition; longest Maya frieze preserves Preclassic deity iconography.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Link to Mirador sphere vs Tikal genesis
- 02Burial under Structure A unexcavated
Theories
- 01Mirador collapse survival model
- 02Stuccoe cosmology shift Preclassic to Classic
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 (Middle Preclassic to Late Classic, Building N 590 CE)
- Period
- Maya Preclassic to Late Classic
- Culture
- Maya (Kanul? Witzná polity)
- Builders
- Maya Holmul kings
- Purpose
- Triadic pyramid with stucco cosmology; stratigraphic anchor
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 800 BCE – 900 CE (Middle Preclassic to Late Classic, Building N 590 CE)
Initial construction
c. 1116 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
17.3000° N · 89.2560° W · 300 m · 3 mapped features
Building N Triadic Frieze Pyramid
pyramid590 CE pyramid with 8m frieze
17.3001° N · 89.2561° WStructure A Great Pyramid
pyramid20 m Preclassic pyramid under Classic
17.2999° N · 89.2562° WBuilding B mural shrine
shrine59-day mural with Choc figures
17.3002° N · 89.2559° W