 Tikal Temple I rises 47 metres (154 ft) high. | |
  Location of the site  Tikal (Guatemala) | |
| Alternate name | Yax Mutal |
|---|---|
| Location | Flores, Petén Department, Guatemala |
| Region | Petén Basin |
| Coordinates | 17°13′19.54″N 89°37′25.01″W / 17.2220944°N 89.6236139°W |
| History | |
| Periods | Early Classic to Late Classic |
| Cultures | Maya civilization |
| Official name | Tikal National Park |
| Type | Mixed |
| Criteria | i, iii, iv, ix, x |
| Designated | 1979 (3rd session) |
| Reference no. | 64 |
| State Party | Guatemala |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
Tikal (or Tik’al, according to modern orthography) is the largest of the ancient ruined cities of the Maya civilization. It is in modern day Guatemala at 17°13′19″N 89°37′22″W / 17.22194°N 89.62278°W. Now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular tourist spot.
Tikal was one of the major cultural and population centers of the Maya civilization. The oldest monumental architecture at the site dates to the 4th century BC. The best time of Tikal was during the Classic Period, from 200 AD to 900 AD. In this period, Tikal was in charge of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily. This is because it was linked with areas throughout Mesoamerica, such as central Mexican, the center of Teotihuacan. After the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built. Some palaces were burned and the population declined. The site was abandoned by the end of the 10th century.
