Copan (Honduras)

Copan (HONDURAS):

In the area that now consists of Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and the west of Honduras, the Indian tribe “the Maya” lived. They built here 50 to 70 cities, where the remains can still be everywhere to be found. Copán in Honduras occupied 24 square kilometers and had more than 25,000 inhabitants. As it was not the largest city of the empire, much has been preserved, making it one of the most important archaeological sites in Central America.

The ruins that we now see on the complex date mainly from the last period of the Maya from the years of 650 to 820. The older (temple) ruins and tombs are "hidden" among the later built and some of them can now be seen as a tourist in the tunnels dug under Copan. The site consists of a main group of temples; the "inside group" (A) and the "outside groups (B and C).

Inside Copan (A):

If you come from the visitor center and museum, the "big square" (Gran Plaza or Plaza de las Estelas) is the first large open field where you end up. This large site with a number of small low ruins contains a variety of grave columns from Copan's rulers. They date from the year 613 BC until 738.

Also here is the grave of ancient archaeologist John Owen who died during research in the year 1893. If you continue your walk to the southeast of the complex you come on the ball-playing field (Juego de Pelota) . This is the largest of the three fields that have ever been here and is the second largest in Central America. The field is narrow with sloping walls. On the sides are six stone parrot heads, instead of the rings that were found at other ball playing fields in Mayan cities. 

Nearby is the unique structure of the hieroglyphic staircase (Escalanita de los Jeroglificos) what is the most famous monument of Copan. This is built along a 30 meter high pyramid. This staircase is lined with the longest text of the old American continent: more than 2000 hieroglyphs are carved in the 72 steps of the staircase. Here you can read the history of the Copán dynasty. Through these hieroglyphs a large part of the history of Copán could be studied. There are also sculptures that represent the various dynastic princes.

The restoration of this staircase took almost a century. The Acropolis was once the most important site of the complex; here were a group of temples that served religion and politics. These were intended for the nobility and kings of Copan and this was also the place where ceremonies (including funerals) took place. Here are also the entrances to the tunnel of Rosalila (25m) and Los Jaguares (80m). Under the current complex you can see (behind glass parts of temples of Rosalila and Jaguar though the most important things are preserved in the museum.

"Outside" Copan (B and C):

You can also see the groups of temples outside of the inner-ring although they are less important. The first group is Sepulturas; these are located about 2 km northeast of group A. If you walk out of the actual complex it is to be reached via a well-signposted walking path.

This must have been the site where the nobility and kings resided; it is estimated that some 40 to 50 buildings have stood here built for almost 200 people. The most important ruin is Palacio de los Bacabs. Exactly in front of this complex is Bosque located which is located about 500 meters from the entrance of A. Especially this part is the highlight of you’re walk when you can visit the these smaller ruins. Probably it’s much more quite also.  

Finally, there is the museum of Copan (Museo de Escultura), while in the field the most important pieces are replicas (many grave pillars) here are the original finds.The highlight is the colored replica of the found temple of Rosalila  which was only discovered in 1989. 

Other attractions:

• Two kilometers past the Mayan city is a Honduran town of much later date, called Copán Ruinas. This is a bit confusing. The village has about 6000 inhabitants and lives mainly from tourism (from the ruins). There are also many small language schools where you can learn Spanish.

From the year 1000, the number of inhabitants began to decline sharply. The cause is unknown. A theory that is accepted more and more is that extreme drought was the cause of the decline of the Maya, and thus also of Copán. It could be the case that the river dripped and that the water reservoirs in Copán could no longer be filled. There is also talk of the growing population that the city could no longer take care of itself.

In addition, flooding caused by rainfall (through deforestation) would affect food production in such a way that people would starve. When in the 16th century the Spaniards set foot on land, the valley was inhabited with only a handful of farmers. When the Spaniards conquered Honduras, the city of Oxwitik had long been overgrown with the advancing rainforest. Although the place was known locally, it was unknown to the outside world that the city existed. The first European to find the ruins was a subject of the Spanish king in the year 1576. It was not until the 19th century that thoroughly research was carried out in the city. 

In the past, the ruins served as a stage for political backgrounds. In September 2005, the ruins were occupied for up to five days by local Maya Chorti Indians to show their dissatisfaction. No tourist was admitted on the complex. They would be the direct descendants of the builders of "Copan" and protested about the land reforms of the then government in Honduras. At least one leader of this tribe has been killed in the past. Some 8,000 members of this tribe live in the region under miserable conditions while handfuls of money are made from the sites.