Sitio Arqueológico El Chal

El Chal is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site located in the upper San Juan River valley of the southeastern Petén Basin region, Guatemala [1]. El Chal was occupied from approximately 300 BC through to 1300 AD, although some Middle Preclassic activity has been identified in the acropolis [1]. The site's major period of occupation was during the Late Classic Period, when it was an important centre in the southeastern Petén region [1]. Among the structures at the site is a large quadrangular residential complex, a structural type that is uncommonly found at Southern Maya lowland sites although there is a smaller one with similar characteristics at Machaquilá [1]. The site core of El Chal consists of an acropolis and three ceremonial plazas in which the majority of sculpted monuments were found, the East Plaza, West Plaza and Northeast Plaza [1]. The acropolis was built on a 30-metre high limestone hill [1]. Six stelae and three altars were found in the East Plaza [1].