Bilbao, Archaeological site in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala
Bilbao is an archaeological site near Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa situated on the Pacific coastal plain at 370 meters elevation and surrounded by sugar plantations. It contains multiple stone sculptures and earth mounds blanketed by volcanic soil.
The site was first cleared in 1860 for a coffee plantation called Finca Peor es Nada, which later merged to form Finca Bilbao in 1890. This transformation shows how agricultural expansion shaped the region's landscape.
The monuments show depictions of the Mexican deity Tlaloc and numerous ballgame images, including a ballplayer holding a severed head. These motifs reflect the religious beliefs and leisure activities that held meaning for the people who lived here.
The archaeological remains extend across multiple connected platforms that slope downward toward the south, linked by stone-paved avenues. It is best explored on foot, taking time to move between the different areas at a leisurely pace.
The site contains the only significant Postclassic residential compound within the broader Cotzumalhuapa archaeological zone, setting it apart from neighboring excavations. This makes it valuable for understanding how people actually lived during that period.
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