Uaxactun

Uaxactun, also spelt Uaxactn, is located in north-central Guatemala, 12miles(20km) from Tikal, another important mayan site. Uaxactun means eight, and the city was given the name by Sylvanus Morley after he deciphered it in an inscription on a stela. Stela datings from 328 AD and 889 AD show place to have existed longer than any other Mayan city. It is also the oldest Mayan city.

 

The city's early development began in the first or second millennium BC, with the people originally living in thatched wood huts and gradually moving into stone and mortar masonry around 900-300 BC.

The major constructions date from the Classic period. Its decline started in the 9th century and it was abandoned during the 10th century.

The structures we are interested in here are those named inspiringly as Group E.

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