Kaminaljuyú

Kaminaljuyú, historical centre of the highland Maya, located near modern Guatemala City, Guatemala. The site was inhabited from the Formative Period (1500 bce– 100 ce) until its decline after the Late Classic Period (c. 600–900 ce). About 200 burial sites from the Late Formative Period (300 bce– 100 ce) have been uncovered. From the Early Classic Period (c. 100–600 ce), a number of more elaborate tombs containing Teotihuacán-style pottery have been unearthed. The design of the tombs and some of the pyramids also reflects the influence of Teotihuacán, the most important center in central Mexico during the Classic Period. There are also courts for playing the ball game tlachtli. Because of the lack of stone suitable for construction, pyramids and other structures at Kaminaljuyú were built of adobe and later of other perishable materials. In the Late Classic the center declined in importance.