Nakum - Monument - Guatemala

On the banks of the Holum River, Nakum flourished during the Late Classic (700-900 A.C.) period because it was on an important trade and communication route. The name means “house of the pot.” It was discovered in 1905 by Frenchman Maurice de Perigny. In 1989, the conservation and restoration of the damaged monuments by the Guatemalan authorities began. There are 15 structures. Structure A with a triadic pod, form (along with structure C) an astronomical complex. Structure V has vaults and vertical walls. Outside Tikal, it shows the largest corpus of ancient Maya script graffiti in a Classic Maya site. Seventeen kilometers (10.5 mi) north of Yaxha and 25 kilometers (15.5 mi) east of Tikal, Nakum is not often visited by travelers. To get there, you can access via Yaxha in a 4x4, but only during the dry season.

Location:
Guatemala

Monument Types:
Monument, Sculptures

Relative price: Budget

Travel Skills: None

About this Page

By Claire Bourgin
I have traveled around the world since I'm a kid. Traveling is now part of my everyday life in Guatemala. I have been living in Quetzaltenango for 3...

Updated: 20 Oct 2009