Note: this is transcribed from the on-site map/guide at El Mirador (yes, the one under the thatched kiosk near the camp).
The site of el Mirador is located in the Mirador national and cultural zone also known scientifically as the Mirador basin. This zone consists of an elevated area in northern Guatemala, framed by a natural border of low karstic limestone hills and covering about 3,000 square kilometers of the last remaining subtropical rainforest. Home of the most endangered species of birds, reptiles, insects, mammals and lush flora. Orchids, medicinal plants, harpy eagle, scarlet macaw, orange breasted falcon, tapir, jaguar. peccari, false vampire bat.
The area is unique because of the quantity and size of middle and late preclassic (ca 6oo B.C. - A.D. 150) archaeological sites.
The west central group at El Mirador is dominated by the large late preclassic Pyramid of Tigre; it rises 55 m. above the plaza floor, built in the triadic style format. The plaza also includes a 17 m. high structure (Structure 34) known as the 'Jaguar Paw' temple, built around 200 B.C.
The pyramid of Monos, located 400 m. to the south of Tigre pyramid is 48 m. high.
To the east of Tigre complex is the great Central Acropolis, a massive compound constructed entirely on an elevated platform 8-10 m high and 400 m long, housing several buildings 8 to 20 m. high.
To the north of Central Acropolis, are several carved stellea, and the "Leon" Group, known also as an "E" group complex. The "Leon" pyramid is 30 m. high with central recessed stairway and projecting masks, panels on all four sides. A large causeway 50 m. wide, comes into the Leon group from the north.
North of the "Leon" compound is the "Cascabel" Group, a cluster of structures 23-30 m. high which flank the causeway. These buildings are possibly commemorative structures and may have been burial places for important kings.
To the northeast of the Central Acropolis is the "Chicharra" Group consisting of several massive platforms and ringed large structures that could be elite or priestly residential compounds.
Another group of the major complex, the "Three Micos" Group, is a series of large platforms and structures located in the southeast sector of the west central group.
Causeways, ranging from 24-50 m. wide and 1 to 4 m. in height, were constructed in several areas of the site center of El Mirador. The concentration of causeways radiates from a central point in the west group and lead to dense residential zones. These causeways facilitated the import of products and subsistence commodities and server to control and manage water in the marshes, as well as connecting major architectural groups and "Danta" pyramid to the east.
Danta: the largest structure at El Mirador, connected to the west-central group by a causeway. It consists of three platforms which sustain a triadic series of buildings, with the primary building standing 72 m. high and with an estimated volume of 2.8 million cubic meters of rubble filling, making it one of the largest pyramids in the world. The lowest platform measures 310 m. wide, by 590 M. long (east-west), by 10 m. high. Large stone stairways allow access up the western face of the first platform, those areas contain the "Pava" group, which also has a triadic style and is no less than 30 m. high.
The second level of "Danta" is 190 m. wide (north to south), 240 m. long (east to west), and extends 50 m. to the base of the third level, and rises 8 m. above the first platform. It has a wide central inset stairway, flanked by the remains of projecting masks and panels.
The third level is a large square vertical platform roughly 150 m. on its sides, with a steep inset stairway, flanked by projecting balustrade masks, in a triadic style.
Tintal causeway and La Muerta: The major causeway to Tintal crosses a narrow spur of "bajo" to a southern suburb of El Mirador called La Muerta, with early classic buildings, decorated with small deity masks and stucco ornaments.
A remarkable bedrock carving is also found in the vicinity of La Muerta. Presumed to date to the protoclassic or the earliest early classic period, it measures 6 m. by 5 m.. and shows a complex assemblage of deity heads and early hieroglyphic text. This carving shows a clear Kan Ahau (snake lord) title.
The late preclassic period is also characterized by the remarkable homogeneity of the pottery known as the "Chicanel Ceramic Sphere". These ceramics were widely produced throughout the lowlands with similar, waxy red, black or cream colored surface treatments.
One of the most remarkable discoveries, first noted at El Mirador, is the near total abandonment of the sites believed to have taken place at the close of the late preclassic period. Residential and ritual structures were abandoned, leaving creamics and lithics directly on plaster floors.
Demise of El Mirador at the end of teh late preclssic period (ca. A.D 150) also occurs at other major centers in the basin as well as other areas of Mesoamerica. These sites were built with defensive construction such ass moats and walls.
Research in the Mirador Basin has demonstrated the the demand for labor and the increasing high cost of construction formed a conspicuous consumption of both work and architectural resources. Several factors contributed to increase in the internal stress on the late preclassic societies. These factors include but are not limited to: Exaggerated quarrying of stone for buildings and lime production, intensive usage of wood in these processes, declining agricultural capacity, the accelerated siltation of clay over the marsh soil, and probably the economic pressure of a declining labor force.
The aforementioned factors hastened the great "Kan" polity's disintegration, with political and economic rivals as Tikal (with the assistance of Teotihuacan), rising to fill the void during the early classic period.
The story of El Mirador, the "Kan" polity, and ancient Maya history is now unfolding for the first time as a testament to an unparalleled cultural heritage, scientifically demonstrated that it was "the first Mesoamerican state," which means that there was a significant amount of population that dominated the territory and lived under a social and hierarchical order, warriors, nobles, artisans, priests, and workers.
