Chocolá, Archaeological site in San Pablo Jocopilas, Guatemala.
Chocolá is a pre-Columbian settlement in San Pablo Jocopilas that spans several square kilometers and contains numerous stone structures. The complex includes multiple groups of buildings of different sizes and purposes scattered across the terrain.
The settlement developed as a major center of early Maya culture between 1000 and 200 BC. This period was crucial for the development of Maya civilization in the southern highlands.
The site displays platform mounds and pyramid structures that reflect the building skills of early Maya inhabitants. These constructions tell of a society capable of organizing complex communities.
Reaching the site requires patience since modern buildings partly cover the ancient ruins and structures can be hard to identify. Visitors should consider hiring a local guide to properly understand the different areas.
Beneath the structures runs a sophisticated network of stone-lined channels that shows how early inhabitants managed water. This drainage system ranks among the oldest known examples of such technical complexity.
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