Tazumal

About this place

Tazumal is a pre-Columbian complex in the town of Chalchuapa in western El Salvador. Its stepped pyramid rises from a large platform on a green lawn beside the town's houses, one of the country's best-known ancient sights and an easy visit from the city of Santa Ana. Chalchuapa was settled from the Preclassic period, and the Ilopango eruption halted building for a time. Tazumal flourished from the Classic period onward and joined long-distance networks reaching central Mexico and Yucatán. Metal objects from the eighth century found here are among the earliest evidence of metalworking in Mesoamerica. Stanley Boggs excavated and restored the main structures between 1942 and 1944. The main pyramid dominates the complex and went through many building phases, and all the buildings face west. Its steps and tiers look grey and smooth because Boggs coated them with modern cement during restoration. Before it are a broad platform and remains of rooms, and two unexcavated mounds to the north-west are thought to hide a ballcourt. The site is 12.5 km in a straight line west of Santa Ana, at 720 metres. Bring a hat and water, as the plaza is exposed. Do not climb the pyramid, and keep to the paths. It is wise to carry your passport or a copy. A guide helps explain the building phases, and ask about hours at the entrance.