Iximche, Maya archaeological site in Tecpán Guatemala, Guatemala.
Iximche is a Maya archaeological site in Tecpán Guatemala, Guatemala, set on a ridge surrounded by deep ravines. The complex includes several pyramid temples, palaces, and two ball courts arranged around a main plaza and smaller courtyards.
The Kaqchikel Maya founded the city in 1470 after breaking away from the K'iche' kingdom and established it as the capital of their new realm. Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1524 and briefly used the site as the first capital of colonial Guatemala before it was abandoned following internal conflicts.
K'iche' Maya communities continue to use the ceremonial plazas for religious rituals, burning incense and reciting traditional prayers. The platforms between the ruins serve as spaces for offerings and spiritual practices passed down through generations.
A museum at the entrance displays pottery, tools, and other finds from the excavations, providing context for the structures outside. The paths between the ruins are mostly level, though some areas require climbing steep steps.
Archaeologists found evidence of ceremonial sacrifices in some temples, including buried objects and ritual deposits that point to complex religious practices. The city was governed by four principal clans, each controlling separate residential areas and administrative buildings within the complex.
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