Tikal is the largest
excavated site in the American continent. It is Guatemala's most famous
cultural and natural preserve. Tikal
possesses a certain magic... Like all puzzles without answers it fascinates
everyone and we dare say... Tikal is so irresistible once you are here, you'll
find yourself wanting to stay just a little longer!
This majestic archaeological gem
comprises 222 square miles of jungle all around the ceremonial center. It took the University of Pennsylvania 13
years to uncover about 10 square miles of structures at Tikal. However, much of it is still left to be
unearthed. So, do take some
advice... Don't try to see all of Tikal
in one day, even if you are in excellent shape!
Tikal remained a mystery for centuries,
after being abruptly abandoned by the Maya over 1000 years ago and overgrown by
a relentless jungle. Only a legend
survived among the Itza Maya people of a lost city, where their ancestors had
achieved high cultural development. In
1848 the legend faded, giving way to an exciting era ofdiscovery. It was a
serendipitous discovery made by Ambrosio Tut, a gum collector or chiclero.
He saw the temples' roof combs in the
distance. He ran to the island city of
Flores to inform Modesto Mendez, then Governor of the Peten Province, in
northern Guatemala. When they arrived at
the site the impressive temples, the open plazas and the several-story
buildings, where priests and kings once lived, stood in front of Governor
Mendez' and Ambrosio Tut's very eyes... They visited the site with an artist
who recorded some of the carvings at Tikal.
Their findings were published by the Berlin Academy of Sciences in
1853. It was only a matter of a few years
before curious scholars started traveling from all corners of the world to see
for themselves what they had discovered.
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