Editing Tikal (section)

===Structures===
[[File:Belize-tikal.jpg|thumb|upright|Temple II on the main plaza]]

There are thousands of ancient structures at Tikal and only a fraction of these have been [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavated]], after decades of [[Archeology|archaeological]] work. The most prominent surviving buildings include six very large pyramids, labelled Temples I – VI, each of which support a [[temple]] structure on their summits. Some of these pyramids are over {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} high. They were numbered sequentially during the early survey of the site. It is estimated that each of these major temples could have been built in as little as two years.<ref name=k133>Kelly 1996, p.133.</ref>

'''[[Tikal Temple I|Temple I]]''' (also known as the ''Temple of Ah Cacao'' or ''Temple of the Great Jaguar'') is a funerary pyramid dedicated to Jasaw Chan Kʼawil, who was entombed in the structure in AD 734,<ref name=mg43>Martin & Grube 2000, p.43.</ref><ref name=c123/> the pyramid was completed around 740–750.<ref>Webster 2002, pl.15.</ref> The temple rises {{convert|47|m|ft|sp=us}} high.<ref name=mg47>Martin & Grube 2000, p.47.</ref> The massive roofcomb that topped the temple was originally decorated with a giant sculpture of the enthroned king, although little of this decoration survives.<ref>Miller 1999, p.27.</ref> The tomb of the king was discovered by Aubrey Trik of the University of Pennsylvania in 1962.<ref name=c124>Coe 1999, p.124.</ref> Among items recovered from the Late Classic tomb were a large collection of inscribed human and animal bone tubes and strips with sophisticated scenes depicting deities and people, finely carved and rubbed with [[vermilion]], as well as jade and shell ornaments and ceramic vessels filled with offerings of food and drink.<ref name=c124/><ref name=m78>Miller 1999, p.78.</ref> The shrine at the summit of the pyramid has three chambers, each behind the next, with the doorways spanned by wooden lintels fashioned from multiple beams. The outermost lintel is plain but the two inner lintels were carved, some of the beams were removed in the 19th century and their location is unknown, while others were taken to museums in Europe.<ref name=k133/>

[[File:Tikal temple 4 cyark.jpg|thumb|left|Contrasting photo, scan shot, and isometric images for the roof comb of Temple IV, using data acquired by a [[3D scanner|laser scan]] collected by nonprofit [[CyArk]]]]
'''[[Tikal Temple II|Temple II]]''' (also known as the ''Temple of the Mask'') it was built around AD 700 and stands {{convert|38|m|ft|sp=us}} high. Like other major temples at Tikal, the summit shrine had three consecutive chambers with the doorways spanned by wooden lintels, only the middle of which was carved. The temple was dedicated to the wife of Jasaw Chan Kʼawil, although no tomb was found. The queen's portrait was carved into the lintel spanning the doorway of the summit shrine. One of the beams from this lintel is now in the [[American Museum of Natural History]] in New York City.<ref name="Miller 1999, p.33"/><ref name=k134>Kelly 1996, p.134.</ref>

'''[[Tikal Temple III|Temple III]]''' (also known as the ''Temple of the Jaguar Priest'') was the last of the great pyramids to be built at Tikal. It stood {{convert|55|m|ft|sp=us}} tall and contained an elaborately sculpted but damaged roof lintel, possibly showing Dark Sun engaged in a ritual dance around AD 810.<ref name=mg52/> The temple shrine possesses two chambers.<ref name=k136>Kelly 1996, p.136.</ref>

'''[[Tikal Temple IV|Temple IV]]''' is the tallest temple-pyramid at Tikal, measuring {{convert|70|m|ft|sp=us}} from the plaza floor level to the top of its roof comb.<ref name=c123>Coe 1999, p.123.</ref> Temple IV marks the reign of Yikʼin Chan Kawil (Ruler B, the son of Ruler A or Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil I) and two carved wooden lintels over the doorway that leads into the temple on the pyramid's summit record a long count date (9.15.10.0.0) that corresponds to CE 741 (Sharer 1994:169). Temple IV is one of the largest pyramids built anywhere in the Maya region in the 8th century,<ref name=m32>Miller 1999, p.32.</ref> and it stands as one of the tallest pre-Columbian structures in the Americas,<ref name="Kelly 1996, p.137">Kelly 1996, p.137.</ref> only surpassed by the Great Pyramid of [[Toniná]] (75 meters) and La Danta pyramid of El Mirador (72 meters) while the [[Pyramid of the Sun]] at Teotihuacan may originally have been taller (71 meters).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tonina |url=https://www.themayanruinswebsite.com/tonina.html |website=Maya Ruins Website}}</ref>

'''[[Tikal Temple V|Temple V]]''' stands south of the Central Acropolis and is the mortuary pyramid of an as yet unidentified ruler. The temple stands {{convert|57|m|ft|sp=us}} high, making it the second tallest structure at Tikal – only Temple IV is taller.<ref>Sharer & Traxler 2006, pp.303-304.</ref> The temple has been dated to about AD 700, in the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Late Classic]] period, via [[Radiocarbon dating|radiocarbon analysis]] and the dating of ceramics associated with the structure places its construction during the reign of Nun Bak Chak in the second half of the 7th century.<ref>Coe 1967, 1988, p.92. Valdés & Fahsen 2005, p.142.</ref>

'''[[Tikal Temple VI|Temple VI]]''' is also known as the ''Temple of the Inscriptions'' and was dedicated in AD 766. It is notable for its {{convert|12|m|ft|adj=on|sp=us}} high roof-comb. Panels of hieroglyphs cover the back and sides of the roof-comb. The temple faces onto a plaza to the west and its front is unrestored.<ref name=k139/>

'''[[Tikal Temple 33|Temple 33]]''' was a funerary pyramid erected over the tomb of Siyaj Chan Kʼawiil I (known as Burial 48) in the North Acropolis. It started life in the Early Classic as a wide basal platform decorated with large stucco masks that flanked the stairway. Later in the Early Classic a new superstructure was added, with its own masks and decorated panels. During the Hiatus a third stage was built over the earlier constructions, the stairway was demolished and another royal burial, of an unidentified ruler, was set into the structure (Burial 23). While the new pyramid was being built another high ranking tomb (Burial 24) was inserted into the rubble core of the building. The pyramid was then completed, standing {{convert|33|m|ft|sp=us}} tall.<ref name=mg36>Martin & Grube 2000, p.36.</ref> The final version of Temple 33 was completely dismantled by archaeologists in 1965 in order to arrive at the earlier stages of construction.<ref>Coe 1967, 1988, p.46. Berlin 1967, p.241.</ref>

'''Structure 34''' is a pyramid in the North Acropolis that was built by Siyaj Chan K'awiil II over the tomb of his father, Yax Nuun Ayiin I. The pyramid was topped by a three chambered shrine, the rooms situated one behind the other.<ref name=m32/>

[[File:Tikal Structure 5D-43 detail.jpg|thumb|Detail of Teotihuacan-related imagery decorating the sloping ''talud'' sections of the ''talud-tablero'' sides of Structure 5D-43<ref name=sm72>Schele & Mathews 1999, p.72.</ref>]]
'''Structure 5D-43''' is an unusual radial temple in the East Plaza, built over a pre-existing twin-pyramid complex. It is built into the end of the East Plaza Ballcourt and possessed four entry doorways and three stairways, the fourth (south) side was too close to the Central Acropolis for a stairway on that side.<ref>Schele & Mathews 1999, p.71.</ref> The building has a ''[[talud-tablero]]'' platform profile, modified from the original style found at Teotihuacan. In fact, it has been suggested that the style of the building has closer affinities with [[El Tajín]] and [[Xochicalco]] than with Teotihuacan itself. The vertical ''tablero'' panels are set between sloping ''talud'' panels and are decorated with paired disc symbols. Large flower symbols are set into the sloping ''talud'' panels, related to the Venus and star symbols used at Teotihuacan. The roof of the structure was decorated with [[frieze]]s although only fragments now remain, showing a monstrous face, perhaps that of a jaguar, with another head emerging from the mouth.<ref name=sm72/> The second head possesses a bifurcated tongue but is probably not that of a snake.<ref>Schele & Mathews 1999, pp.72-3.</ref> The temple, and its associated ballcourt, probably date to the reign of Nuun Ujol Chaak or that  Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil I, in the later part of the 7th century.<ref>Schele & Mathews 1999, pp.70-1.</ref>

'''Structure 5C-49''' possesses a clear Teotihuacan-linked architectural style; it has [[balustrade]]s, an architectural feature that is very rare in the Maya region, and a ''[[talud-tablero]]'' façade; it dates to the 4th century AD.<ref name=h228/> It is located near to the Lost World pyramid.<ref>Miller 1999, p.30.</ref>

'''Structure 5C-53''' is a small Teotihuacan-style platform that dates to about AD 600. It had stairways on all four sides and did not possess a superstructure.<ref name=k136/>

[[File:DSC03332TikalUnderjordiskSteinansikt.JPG|thumb|left|A large stucco mask adorning the substructure of Temple 33]]
The '''Lost World Pyramid''' (Structure 5C-54) is the largest structure in the Mundo Perdido complex.<ref>Coe 1967, 1988, p.90.</ref> It lies in the southwest portion of Tikal's central core, south of Temple III and west of Temple V.<ref name=h227/><ref name="Martin & Grube 2000, p.24"/><ref>Kelly 1996, p.130.</ref> It was decorated with stucco masks of the sun god and dates to the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Late Preclassic]];<ref name=d185/> this pyramid is part of an enclosed complex of structures that remained intact and un-impacted by later building activity at Tikal. By the end of the Late Preclassic this pyramid was one of the largest structures in the Maya region.<ref name=h227/> It attained its final form during the reign of Chak Tok Ichʼaak in the 4th century AD, in the Early Classic, standing more than {{convert|30|m|ft|sp=us}} high with stairways on all four sides and a flat top that possibly supported a superstructure built from perishable materials.<ref name=h228>Hammond 2000, p.228.</ref><ref name=d188/> Although the plaza later suffered significant alteration, the organization of a group of temples on the east side of this complex adheres to the layout that defines the so-called [[E-Group]]s, identified as solar observatories.<ref>Hammond 2000, pp.227-8.</ref>

'''Structure 5D-96''' is the central temple on the east side of the Plaza of the Seven Temples. It has been restored and its rear outer wall is decorated with skull-and-crossbones motifs.<ref>Kelly 1996, p.135.</ref>

'''Group 6C-16''' is an elite residential complex that has been thoroughly excavated. It lies a few hundred m south of the Lost World Complex and the excavations have revealed elaborate stucco masks, ballplayer murals, relief sculptures and buildings with Teotihuacan characteristics.<ref name=h228/>

The '''Great Plaza Ballcourt''' is a small ballcourt that lies between Temple I and the Central Acropolis.<ref name=k134/>

The '''Bat Palace''' is also known as the Palace of Windows and lies to the west of Temple III.<ref>Kelly 1996, pp.130, 136.</ref> It has two storeys, with a double range of chambers on the lower storey and a single range in the upper storey, which has been restored. The palace has ancient graffiti and possesses low windows.<ref name=k136/>

'''Complex N''' lies to the west of the Bat Palace and Temple III. The complex dates to AD 711.<ref>Kelly 1996, pp. 136-7.</ref>

In 2018, 60,000 uncharted structures were revealed by archaeologists with help of [[Lidar]]. Thanks to the new findings, some archaeologists believe that 7–11 million [[Maya peoples|Maya people]] inhabited in the northern [[Guatemala]] during the late classical period from 650 to 800 A.D. Lidar digitally removed the tree canopy to reveal ancient remains and showed that Maya cities like Tikal were bigger than previously thought. The project was mapped near the [[Maya Biosphere Reserve]] in the [[Petén Department|Petén]] region of Guatemala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/world/archaeologists-find-ancient-lost-cities-using-lasers/ar-BBNIdqB|title=Archaeologists Find Ancient Lost Cities Using Lasers|website=msn.com|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/maya-laser-lidar-guatemala-pacunam/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807025257/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/maya-laser-lidar-guatemala-pacunam/|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2019|title=This Ancient Civilization Was Twice As Big As Medieval England|date=1 February 2018|website=National Geographic News|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-42916261|title=Sprawling Maya network discovered under Guatemala jungle|publisher=BBC News |date=2 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-find-ancient-cities-using-lasers-1145042|title=Archaeologists Find Ancient Mayan Lost Cities in Guatemala Using Lasers|website=NEWSWEEK|date=29 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/news/ancient-maya-structures-guatemala-lasers|title=Lasers Reveal 60,000 Ancient Maya Structures in Guatemala|last=Little|first=Becky|website=HISTORY|language=en|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/hidden-ancient-mayan-apos-megalopolis-110002872.html|title=Hidden Ancient Mayan 'Megalopolis' With 60,000 Structures Discovered in Guatemala Using Lasers|website=yahoo.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-10|archive-date=5 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905113109/https://www.yahoo.com/news/hidden-ancient-mayan-apos-megalopolis-110002872.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/60000-lost-mayan-structures-found-beneath-guatemalan-jungle-2018-2|title=Archaeologists found thousands of hidden structures in the Guatemalan jungle – and it could re-write human history|last=Berke|first=Jeremy|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/hidden-ancient-mayan-megalopolis-60000-structures-discovered-guatemala-using-797865|title=Hidden Ancient Mayan 'Megalopolis' With 60,000 Structures Discovered in Guatemala Using Lasers|website=NEWSWEEK|date=2 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://olodonation.com/2018/09/30/archaeologists-discover-ancient-mayan-lost-city-in-northern-guatemala-using-lasers/|title=Archaeologists Discover Ancient Mayan Lost City in Northern Guatemala Using Lasers|last=Chukwurah|first=Precious|date=30 September 2018|website=Nigeria’s Entertainment News, Music, Video, Lifestyle|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bgr.com/2018/02/02/mayan-megacity-discovered-guatemala-jungle/|title=Archaeologists discovered an ancient Mayan megacity hidden in a Guatemalan jungle|date=2 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2018/09/27/this-major-discovery-upends-long-held-theories-about-maya-civilization/?_ga=2.164638527.1462411402.1566373807-1089594517.1566373807&noredirect=on|title=This major discovery upends long-held theories about the Maya civilization|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>