Guatemala

Cancuén

Maya city and palace complex, Classic Period

Location

Explore the Map

Historical Context

About

Cancuén is an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located in the Pasión subregion of the central Maya lowlands in the present-day Guatemalan Department of Petén. The city is notable for having one of the largest palaces in the Maya world.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history

Peak occupation

7th century

Palace construction

770 AD

Abandonment

c. 800 AD

Massacre and executions

c. 800 AD

Rediscovery by explorer

1905

Major palace excavation

1967

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Water Management Features

Cisterns
category

Public and Civic Structures

Marketplaces
category

Burial and Funerary Structures

Pyramids
category

Religious and Ritual Structures

Ball Courts
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

PalacesCourtyards
category

Transportation and Communication Structures

QuaysDocks
Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

Reference

Details

Country

Guatemala

Coordinates

16.01° N, -90.04° E