Tazumal is a major pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in western El Salvador, part of the broader Chalchuapa area. It was inhabited from the Preclassic through the Postclassic periods, with evidence of trade and cultural links to Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, Tula, and Copán.
Key Features:
- Structure B1-1: The main pyramid, built in multiple phases from the Early Classic to Early Postclassic. It stands on a large platform and includes a west-facing temple called the Temple of the Columns.
- Structure B1-2: A west-facing talud-tablero style pyramid built in the Late Classic. It collapsed in 2004 due to water and root damage.
- Ballcourt: An I-shaped ballcourt formed by Structures B1-3 and B1-4.
- Sculpture: Includes chacmool figures and a statue of the god Xipe Totec, reflecting central Mexican influence.
- Burials: Two documented burials were found near Structure B1-2, possibly linked to ritual activities. One belonged to a young adult, the other to a child.
- Metal artifacts: Among the earliest in Mesoamerica, including gold items made with the lost-wax technique, likely from lower Central America.
Tazumal was abandoned around AD 1200, with later populations shifting toward modern Chalchuapa. The site was excavated and partially restored by Stanley Boggs in the 1940s–50s1.
