Bonampak, Archaeological site in Lacandon Jungle, Chiapas, Mexico

Bonampak is an archaeological site in the Lacandon Jungle of Chiapas, covering a compact area with a hillside acropolis and a large plaza. The stone temple buildings cluster around open courtyards, and the most famous one stands on the uppermost level of the main group.

Bonampak's first recorded ruler, Bird Jaguar, fought Yaxchilán's K'inich Tatb'u Skull I in the early 5th century and lost his freedom; further lords were captured in 526. By 600 the site was a satellite of Yaxchilán, whose ajaw installed Chan Muwan I as lord. Around 790, Shield Jaguar III of Yaxchilán married his sister Lady Yax T'ul to Chan Muwan II and hired Yaxchilán artists for the Structure 1 murals. The city collapsed with Yaxchilán in the 9th century.

The name Bonampak means "Painted Walls" in Maya; the site was called Ak'e anciently and Usiij Witz, "Vulture Hill", in its immediate area. Lacandon Maya still visited the temples to pray when outsiders were first led there in 1946, and the find is now credited to two Lacandon men, José Pepe Chambor and Acasio Chan.

Access involves traveling through dense jungle, and visitors should check local security conditions before making the trip. Morning hours bring cooler temperatures and better natural light filtering through the temple openings to view the paintings.

The paintings show a total of 281 human figures, some of which bear deliberately blank labels. These missing names may indicate that the individuals died before the artists could complete the work fully.