Takalik Abaj

Common card · No. 487170

Tak'alik Ab'aj (; Mayan pronunciation: [takʼaˈlik aˀ'ɓaχ] ; Spanish: [takaˈlik aˈβax]) is a pre-Columbian archaeological site in Guatemala. It was formerly known as Abaj Takalik; its ancient name may have been Kooja. It is one of several Mesoamerican sites with both Olmec and Maya features. The site flourished in the Preclassic and Classic periods, from the 9th century BC through to at least the 10th century AD, and was an important centre of commerce, trading with Kaminaljuyu and Chocolá. Investigations have revealed that it is one of the largest sites with sculptured monuments on the Pacific coastal plain. Olmec-style sculptures include a possible colossal head, petroglyphs and others. The site has one of the greatest concentrations of Olmec-style sculpture outside of the Gulf of Mexico, and was made a World Heritage Site in 2023 because of its long history of occupation. Takalik Abaj is representative of the first blossoming of Maya culture that had occurred by about 400 BC. The site...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Gobierno de Guatemala, Public domain