Río Azul

Río Azul is an archaeological site of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization [1]. It is the most important site in the Río Azul National Park in the Petén Department of northern Guatemala [1]. Río Azul is situated to the southeast of the Azul river and its apogee dates to the Early Classic period (c. AD 250–600) [1]. In the late 4th century AD Río Azul was dominated by the city of Tikal and its great central Mexican ally Teotihuacan [1]. The Teotihuacan warlord Siyaj K'ak' is mentioned in an inscription at Río Azul dated to AD 393 [1]. Río Azul possesses nine major architectural groups in its site core, each including an elite residential complex and its associated funerary pyramids [1]. The site is known for a number of ornate tombs, some of which are corbel-vaulted [1].