Nebaj, Archaeological site in Santa Maria Nebaj, Guatemala

Nebaj is an archaeological site in the western highlands of Guatemala where remnants of Maya structures are scattered across the landscape, interspersed with cultivated fields and private properties. The location sits at roughly 1900 meters elevation and contains pottery fragments and stone foundations from different periods.

Nebaj was a major Classic period highland trading and artistic center of the Ixil region, known for a distinct polychrome ceramic style and jadeite carvings that point to trade networks reaching the Petén lowlands. The Fenton Vase, now in the British Museum, was excavated here.

Nebaj lies beside the Ixil village of Santa María Nebaj, and the site's name is shared with that community. Its polychrome ceramics and jadeite carvings, traded toward the Petén lowlands, are the craft tradition archaeologists associate with the Ixil region. The Fenton Vase, excavated here, is now kept in the British Museum.

Nebaj lies near the Ixil village of Santa María Nebaj in the western Guatemalan highlands, reached from the town of Santa Cruz del Quiché. The excavated Fenton Vase came from this site and is now in the British Museum, so the finds themselves are not on view here. Ask locally about which mounds and plazas can be visited.

The Fenton Vase, a painted Maya ceramic vessel, was excavated at Nebaj and is now held in the British Museum. Its painted scene and glyphs make it a reference piece for studying Classic-period Maya ceramics from the highlands.