Nakbe, Archaeological site in Petén, Guatemala

Nakbe is a Maya archaeological site in the Mirador Basin of Petén, Guatemala, about 13 km south of El Mirador. Its centre holds three building groups: East and West from the Formative periods and Codex from the Late Classic reoccupation. Structure 1 is a pyramid flanked by two large stucco masks and topped by three triadic roofed structures. Causeways paved with crushed white stone, called sacbeob, link the groups; the Kan Causeway stands 4 m above the ground in places.

Nakbe was first spotted in 1930 from aerial photographs, and Ian Graham mapped part of the site in 1962. Excavations began in 1989 under Richard D. Hansen of Idaho State University with Guatemalan scientists. The oldest structures are residential platforms from around 1000 BC; the ball court dates to about 800 BC, and Stela 1 in the East Group is stylistically dated to 400 BC. The site was partly reoccupied around AD 550.

Nakbe is where the Late Classic Codex-style pottery tradition began, around 700 CE, and it is the only known source of that fine ware. The name comes from Maya for "on the road" or "by the road", fitting for a city crossed by a sacbe, the white-paved causeway linking it to El Mirador. Excavations recovered 23 chert tools — bifacial axes, picks and hammerstones — which researchers replicated to learn how limestone was cut.

Nakbe lies in the Mirador Basin of Petén, about 13 km south of El Mirador, and is reached on foot through dense lowland forest, usually as part of a guided multi-day trek from Flores or the Tikal area. There are no facilities at the site; carry water, food and warm layers for cold nights. The ground is uneven and humid, so sturdy boots and insect protection are needed.

Nakbe's name comes from Maya words meaning "on the road" or "by the road", fitting for a site linked to El Mirador by a 12.5-kilometre sacbe, a causeway paved with crushed white stone. The Kan Causeway stood 4 metres above the surrounding ground in places.