Ixkun, Maya archaeological site in Dolores, Guatemala

Ixkun is an ancient Maya settlement near the Mopan River in the karst mountainous landscape of Peten. The site consists of numerous mounds, temples, palaces, and altars scattered across the forest area.

Ixkun was first occupied in the Late Preclassic and became capital of one of the four largest kingdoms of the upper Mopan Valley in the Late Classic. Its sculpted monuments mark an apogee around the end of the 8th century AD. In 779 it was burned by Ucanal, then defeated Sacul on 21 December 779 and Ucanal on 10 May 780. Around AD 800 king Rabbit God K erected the last monument, and unfinished construction was abandoned.

This settlement served as an important center for the Maya people and shows their ability to build complex communities in this mountainous forest region. You can still see today in the ruins how closely buildings were arranged and what value the residents placed on monumental structures.

The site is remote and is mainly accessible by hiking through forest trails. Visitors should expect uneven terrain, dense vegetation, and humid tropical conditions.

A particularly large stone with carved images and inscriptions stands here and is among the tallest found across the entire region. This stone was erected to record important events and names from Maya history.