Editing Copán (section)

==Location==
[[File:Larger Southern Maya area v3.svg|thumb|left|Location of Copán]]
Copán is in western Honduras close to the border with Guatemala. It lies within the [[Municipalities of Honduras|municipality]] of [[Copán Ruinas]] in the [[Departments of Honduras|department]] of [[Copán Department|Copán]]. It is in a fertile valley among foothills at {{convert|700|m|ft|sp=us}} [[above mean sea level]].<ref name="Sharer & Traxler 2006, p. 339"/> The ruins of the site core of the city are {{convert|1.6|km|mi|0|sp=us}} from the modern village of [[Copán Ruinas]], which is built on the site of a major complex dating to the Classic period.<ref name="Martin & Grube 2000, p. 198">{{harvnb|Martin|Grube|2000|p=198}}.</ref>

In the Preclassic period the floor of the Copán Valley was undulating, swampy and prone to seasonal flooding. In the Early Classic, the inhabitants flattened the valley floor and undertook construction projects to protect the city's architecture from the effects of flooding.{{sfn|Viel|Hall|2002|p=877}}

Copán had a major influence on regional centres across western and central Honduras, stimulating the introduction of Mesoamerican characteristics to local elites.{{sfn|Sheets|2000|p=434}}