El Puente, Maya archaeological site in La Jigua, Honduras.
El Puente is an archaeological site with around 210 ancient structures organized around five main plazas. The largest building in the central area rises to about 12 meters high and marks the important spaces of the settlement.
The settlement began around 570 CE as an outlying center during the Late Classic Period, tied to a larger Maya city. It grew to control trade moving through central Honduras.
The buildings here show construction methods and materials that reflect how different groups in the region lived and built together. You can see these mixed influences in the way the structures are made and arranged.
The site is open during daylight hours and can be visited without much advance planning. Bringing sturdy footwear and water is helpful, and hiring a local guide greatly helps you understand the ruins.
The main building has different-sized staircases on each of its four sides, revealing that different construction phases used varying techniques and quality levels. These differences tell a story about changes and development at the site over time.
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