Ixtonton Maya City
Ixtontón · Ixtonton Dolores
Late Classic Maya (550–900 CE)·Maya (Dolores valley – Petén southeastern)·🇬🇹 Petén, Dolores Municipality, Guatemala
About
About Ixtonton Maya City
Late Classic Maya kingdom capital (600–900 CE) in southeastern Petén mountains: 120 structures organized in 2 plazas, main Acropolis pyramid 18 m high, Group 2 palace, Structure 104 vaulted causeway (70 m) and 14 inscribed monuments including Stela 2 (760 CE) long count. Part of Dolores valley alliance network with Ixtutz and Ixkún; name means 'place of the itz' (obsidian). Atlas Arqueológico de Guatemala (A. Laporte/Demarest) documented defensive hilltop position controlling Chiquibul–Mopan obsidian route.
Why it mattersLargest Dolores valley capital; demonstrates Petén southeast micro-kingdom network outside Tikal hegemony; epigraphy linking to Petexbatún wars.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Stela 2 war narrative vs Ixtutz
- 02Causeway purpose—ritual procession vs defense
Theories
- 01Dolores alliance as buffer zone between Tikal and Pusilha
- 02Obsidian exchange node with Belize highlands
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.600–760 CE apogee
- Period
- Late Classic Maya (550–900 CE)
- Culture
- Maya (Dolores valley – Petén southeastern)
- Purpose
- Mountain kingdom capital and obsidian route toll station
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600–760 CE apogee
Initial construction
c. 1607 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
16.5492° N · 89.4236° W · 420 m · 2 mapped features
Main Acropolis pyramid
pyramid18 m pyramid-palace 60×50 m enclosing stela plaza
16.5495° N · 89.4234° WVaulted causeway (Structure 104)
causeway70 m vaulted sacbe linking Group A to Group B across ravine
16.5489° N · 89.4239° W