Copán: City of the Mist

Over a century of archaeological investigations and explorations have assembled a wealth of information about the beautiful Maya civilization site of Copán, Honduras.

Copán, called Xukpi by its residents, rises out of the mist of western Honduras, in a pocket of alluvial soil amid rugged topography. It is arguably one of the most important royal sites of the Maya civilization. Occupied between about AD 400 and 800, Copán covers over 50 acres of temples, altars, stelae, ball courts, several plazas and the magnificent Hieroglyphic Stairway, shown illustrated on this blog entry. The culture of Copán was rich in written documentation, including detailed sculptural inscriptions, very rare in precolumbian sites. Sadly, many of the books--and there were books written by the Maya, called codices--were destroyed by the priests of the Spanish invasion.

• The Ancient City of Copán, read more about the site
• Copán bibliography and ruler list
• Maya Civilization timeline and definition
• More Maya Archaeological Sites and Resources
• CopánPhoto Gallery, from Central America for Visitors
• Spectacles and Spectators: Maya Plazas