Sitio Arqueológico El Chal

El Chal is a pre-Columbian Maya site in the upper San Juan River valley of southeastern Peten, Guatemala, occupied from approximately 300 BC to 1300 AD. Archaeologists have mapped 268 structures in 53 groups around 68 patios, centred on an acropolis with three ceremonial plazas. The site reached its greatest importance during the Late Classic period (600-900 AD) as a major regional centre. A large reservoir collected rainwater for the community, demonstrating sophisticated water management. Designated a protected site in 1975, El Chal derives its name from a local Maya word meaning 'a green place'.