Tazumal

Tazumal is an archaeological site near Chalchuapa in western El Salvador, where several stone structures and a ritual ball court remain visible. The main pyramid rises about 23 meters (75 feet) in 14 tiers and forms a large complex of carved blocks, platforms and temple remains.

People settled here around 1000 BC and began raising larger structures around 100 AD. The Ilopango eruption about 540 caused an interruption, but from 650 onward the pyramid took its present form through several rebuilding phases until abandonment around 1200.

The name comes from the Nahua term for »pyramid where the victims burned«, referring to ritual fires that once blazed here. Visitors see remains of stucco and altars that show how religious acts shaped daily life.

The site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 to 4, with early visits offering cooler temperatures and fewer people. An information desk at the entrance provides guidance on trails and viewpoints, and staff can arrange short guided walks.

Excavations revealed three gold ornaments from the 8th century, a rare find in the Maya region where metalwork remained uncommon. A burial beneath one platform contained pottery from Teotihuacan, showing direct contact between distant cultures.