El Baúl

El Baúl is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in present-day Escuintla Department, Guatemala [1]. El Baúl, along with the sites of Bilbao and El Castillo, is part of the Cotzumalhuapa Archaeological Zone [1]. It was occupied during the prehistoric Formative stage of the Americas [1]. The El Baúl acropolis is located 4 km north of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, 550 metres above sea level, 50 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean [1]. Its southern acropolis complex was destroyed in 1997 by urban development and the main groups are now covered by sugar cane fields [1]. The site's geologic context is volcanic; it is located just south of an active stratovolcano, Fuego volcano [1]. The site contains monumental architecture in its acropolis as well as a probable sweatbath and obsidian workshops [1].