Cival facts for kids
Cival is an ancient city from the Maya civilization. It is an archaeological site found deep in the jungles of Guatemala. Cival was once a very important city for the Maya people.
This amazing city grew and thrived a long time ago. It was busy from about 600 years before Christ (B.C.) until about 100 years after Christ (C.E.). This time is called the Preclassic Period of the Maya. At its busiest, Cival might have been home to around 10,000 people!
Cival is located in the Petén region of Guatemala. It sits on a ridge near the Holmul river. The site is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of another famous Maya city, Tikal.
What Was Cival Like?
Cival was a well-planned city. It had large temples built on top of step pyramids. There were also big open areas called plazas. These buildings and plazas were set up in a special way. They pointed towards important events in the sky, like the equinox sunrise. This shows how much the Maya knew about astronomy.
The biggest pyramid at Cival is very tall, about 27 meters high. It is also quite wide, measuring 70 by 40 meters. Some of the buildings were decorated with beautiful sculptures. These sculptures were made from a special plaster called stucco. They showed different Mesoamerican gods and goddesses. The city was also protected by a strong defensive wall.
How Was Cival Found?
For a long time, Cival was hidden away in the thick jungle. It was first found by people looking for ancient treasures around 1980. These people, called looters, took some items from the site.
In 1984, an explorer named Ian Graham was the first to map the site. He gave it the name Cival. This name comes from a local word that means "lagoon" or "small lake." We don't know the original ancient name of the city.
What Have We Learned from Cival?
Archaeologists began digging at Cival in 2001. These excavations are still happening today. Dr. Francisco Estrada-Belli leads the project. At first, the team was working at a nearby site called Holmul. But they soon realized how old and important Cival was. So, they shifted their focus there.
Many groups help pay for the work at Cival. These include Vanderbilt University and the National Geographic Society.
The discoveries at Cival have taught us a lot about the Preclassic Maya. For example, archaeologists found some of the earliest writings with Maya calendar dates. They also found proof of family lines of rulers. This shows that the Maya had powerful leaders very early on.
See also
In Spanish: Cival para niños
