Holmul

Holmul is a Mayan site in the rainforests in the department of Petén in northern Guatemala, northeast of Flores, the capital of Petén, and about 35 km away from the ancient Mayan city of Tikal.

This Mayan ruin dating from around 600 AD, was rediscovered after reports of Francisco Estrada - Belli 1910 and was by then rather insignificant pyramid remains. Since 2000, in-depth excavations have been made again. Here, a spectacular find was uncovered by archaeologists led by Estrada - Belli under the rubble of younger structures in recent years: An eight meters long and two meters high frieze showing stone carvings with inscriptions and three people with the feathers of the quetzal bird and jade, as a representation of deities and divine rulers. The figures perched on the heads of natural liable monsters. Under the relief frieze there is a border with 30 characters of Maya writing that refer to armed conflict with the mighty Tikal.

The ancient city Holmul to have been founded around 800 BC and may have existed to n around the year 900 AD.