Piedras Negras — Pyramid Complex K-5 and Acropolis (Usumacinta, Guatemala)
Yo’k’ib · Piedras Negras K-5 · Structure K-5
Early to Late Classic Maya (250–900 CE)·Maya (Usumacinta basin)·🇬🇹 Petén Department, Usumacinta River, Guatemala
About
About Piedras Negras — Pyramid Complex K-5 and Acropolis (Usumacinta, Guatemala)
Powerful Classic Maya kingdom capital Yo’k’ib on Usumacinta north bank (450–810 CE) with 8 km² centre. Structure K-5 is the western acropolis pyramid (35 m high, 60x50 m base) paired with Vaulted ballcourt K-6 famous for boxing images; eastern triadic group J-4 is the Early Classic royal palace. Ruler's pyramid-plaza at K-5 contained cenotaph for queen and sweatbath Los Sapos (12F-5 analog). Stela 3 and Altar 4 record Yok'ib dynasty hawks; site famously sculpted in situ with 40+ monuments. Penn Museum 1931–39 (Morley, Satterthwaite) and Houston-Escobedo 1997–2006.
Why it mattersFinest Usumacinta sculpture tradition; model Classic Maya urbicide — site ritually terminated with monument smashing c.810 CE.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Who desecrated monuments at abandonment — internal revolt or enemy
Theories
- 01K-5 ballcourt-pyramid paired for legitimization via ritual sport
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.450–810 CE, K-5 pyramid Early Classic with Late Classic enlargement
- Period
- Early to Late Classic Maya (250–900 CE)
- Culture
- Maya (Usumacinta basin)
- Builders
- Maya (Yok'ib dynasty)
- Purpose
- Royal dynastic pyramid and ceremonial ballcourt complex for courtly sport and queen cult
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.450–810 CE, K-5 pyramid Early Classic with Late Classic enlargement
Initial construction
c. 1623 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
17.1670° N · 91.2610° W · 130 m · 2 mapped features
Structure K-5 pyramid
pyramid35 m stepped pyramid with queen cenotaph and summit vault
17.1670° N · 91.2610° WBallcourt K-6 with boxing reliefs
ballcourtVaulted ballcourt aligning to pyramid, with famous boxer panels, 40 m east of K-5
17.1667° N · 91.2606° W