Itzan

Itzan is an archaeological site in Petén Department, Guatemala, situated on a natural hilltop surrounded by ravines and seasonal wetlands. The location contains at least 25 carved stone monuments and multiple plaza areas that reflect the architectural skill of Maya builders.

The site came under control of the powerful city of Calakmul around 652 CE, then later fell under Dos Pilas rule as regional power dynamics shifted. These transitions reveal the complex rivalries between competing Maya city-states during this era.

The carved monuments here conveyed power and knowledge through imagery that visitors can still observe across the plaza areas. These stone records show how important visual storytelling was to Maya society and how people gathered in these spaces to witness and participate in civic life.

The ruins sit approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Dos Pilas and can be reached through the municipality of La Libertad in northern Guatemala. Access involves travel through tropical forest terrain, so local guidance and preparation are important before visiting.

Oil exploration activities in the 1980s triggered emergency excavations when several smaller structures faced destruction from extraction work. This unexpected threat prompted archaeologists to quickly document what might otherwise have been lost.