Yaxhá
Yaxha Archaeological Site · Yaxhá Lake City (Yaxhá–Nakum–Naranjo Triangle)
Preclassic–Late Classic·Maya (Eastern Petén)·🇬🇹 Petén, Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala
About
About Yaxhá
Lacustrine Maya city (600 BCE–900 CE) on north shore of Lake Yaxhá, with 500+ structures: North Acropolis 23 m twin pyramids, Main Plazas, South Acropolis, twin ballcourts, island sacbé to Isla Topoxte, and extensive causeway. Twenty decorated stelae and 9 pyramids; excavated Bernard Hermes 1970–; UNESCO Natural–Cultural Triangle. Georeference 17.0775°N -89.4025°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 mattersThird-largest Classic Petén city after Tikal & El Mirador; refines eastern Petén warfare triangle Naranjo conflict history.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Lake habitation benefit — ritual lake cosmology vs water security
Theories
- 01Yaxhá lake city as Naranjo's ritual rival, star-war defeats recorded on stelae
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 BCE–900 CE
- Period
- Preclassic–Late Classic
- Culture
- Maya (Eastern Petén)
- Purpose
- Lake Yaxhá acropolis city and third-largest Petén power
- Abandoned
- c.900 CE
- Rediscovered
- 20th c. survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
17.0775° N · 89.4025° W · 165 m · 2 mapped features
Yaxhá central pyramid/structure
moundNorth Acropolis 23 m high; causeway 800 m; site 100 ha core primary mound/structure
17.0785° N · 89.4025° WYaxhá plaza/causeway component
earthworkAssociated plaza and causeway/road segment flanking main architecture
17.0765° N · 89.4015° W