Tikal National Park (Ruins), World Heritage Site in Guatemala

In the jungle in northern Guatemala was “Tikal“, a major temple city of the Mayan civilization. People lived here from the 8th to 10th centuries B.C., and pyramid-shaped temples and palaces still remain. The surrounding forest is also home to howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and other valuable animals, and was registered as a Heritage Complex.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Tikal National Park is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner.Read this and you will definitely learn more about Tikal National Park!

What is Tikal National Park (Ruins)?

A national park located in the vast jungle in the state of Petén in northern Guatemala, near the border with Mexico and Belize, this 576-square-kilometer national park is a composite heritage site recognized not only for its archaeological remains of the Maya civilization, but also for the diversity of life found there.

The Mayan civilization flourished from the 6th to 9th centuries B.C., and many ruins of Mayan temples and palaces remain in the registered area. As a natural heritage site, it is home to jaguars and pumas, and more than 300 species of birds.

It is estimated that up to 60,000 people lived here, indicating that this city was once the political, economic, and military center of the region. There are three acropolises within the ruins, including a pyramid-shaped temple, a palace, a mansion, and a ballroom, and 42 buildings remain in the central acropolis. It is believed that this was the residence of the ruler of the time.Two temple-type pyramids were built facing each other and are thought to be ritual spaces, which are called complexes.

People began to inhabit the area around the 9th century B.C. By the 1st century, the area was platted as it is today, and pyramid temples and other structures are believed to have begun to be built.The oldest inscription, dated 292 B.C., is from 292 B.C. The city was conquered by Teotihuacan (a state located around present-day Mexico City) in the 4th century B.C., and later was ruled by neighboring cities, but reached its peak around the 7th century B.C. The Mayan civilization declined in the 9th century, and by the 9th century, the Mayan civilization had reached its peak in 869.

By the 9th century, however, the Maya civilization was in decline, and there is no record of it after stone monument 11, inscribed in 869.As in other cities, the cause remains unknown.

There is a reservoir within the ruins, which indicates that the people living here used rainwater for domestic use, as there were no large rivers in the surrounding area.To begin with, “Tikal” means “puddle” derived from the Yucatecan language. The name was given when the ruins were discovered in the 19th century. Tikal was also a center of trade with other Maya cities, including Teotihuacan and Calakmul in Mexico and Copan in Honduras.

Major Registered Monuments

Temple No. 1

Temple thought to have been built around the 8th century.The tomb and burial goods of the 26th King Ah Cacao(Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil) have been discovered. Also known as the “Jaguar Temple” because of the jaguar carved on the top.

Temple No. 2

This temple stands across from Temple No. 1 and is also known as the “Temple of the Mask” because of the reliefs on the roof ornaments.This is also said to have been built by King Ah Cacao.

Temple No. 4

A pyramid-shaped temple built around the 8th century by the 27th Yik’in Chan K’awiil, Temple No. 4 is the tallest of the ruins at 65 meters.

Temple No. 5

Temple No. 5 is 57 meters high and is located south of the Acropolis, where Temple No. 1 and other temples are located.It was probably built in the 8th century. The ceiling is a whopping 5 meters thick.

For what reason is Tikal National Park (Ruins) on the World Heritage List?

Tikal National Park was recognized for

Registration Criteria (i)
The architectural complexes where the art of the Mayan civilization can be seen is a display of the talents of mankind.

Registration Criteria (iii)
The oldest stone inscription 29, was dated 292 B.C., and the last inscription 11, was dated 869 B.C. The point where it is recorded that the land was ruled by at least 33 rulers here.

Registration Criteria (iv)
This means that many temples and other structures related to religious ceremonies were constructed, showing the development of Mayan architectural techniques.

Registration Criteria (ix)
The park is home to a variety of terrain, including jungles, wetlands, and savannas, and is a habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Registration Criteria (x)
It is home to more than 2,000 species of plants, including 200 species of trees, and more than 100 species of mammals, some of which are endangered.

Conclusions and Thoughts of a World Heritage Site Enthusiast

Most of the Maya-related ruins in major cities are registered as World Heritage sites, but the fact that there are also many valuable plants and animals makes them composite heritage sites, and the only similar heritage site is Calakmul in Mexico. Although there are ruins where temples still remain, the fact that many inscriptions remain and can be properly dated is a point of appreciation here in particular. Another advantage is that many large pyramid-shaped temples remain.

Tikal is truly an otherworldly landscape of ruins standing in the jungle. Incidentally, it was also used as a filming location for the first “Star Wars” movie.

*The contents here are considerations derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.