El Mirador

El Mirador was first discovered in 1926, and was photographed from the air in 1930, but the remote site deep in the jungle had little more attention paid to it until Ian Graham spent some time there making the first map of the area in 1962. A detailed investigation was begun in 1978 with an archaeological project under the direction of Dr. Bruce Dahlin (Catholic University of America) and Dr. Ray Matheny (Brigham Young University). Dahlin’s work focused primarily on the bajo swamps and mapping, while Matheny’s team focused primarily on excavations in the site center and architecture. This project ended in 1983. To the surprise of the archaeologists, it was found that a large amount of construction was not contemporary with the large Maya classic cities in the area, like Tikal and Uaxactun, but rather from centuries earlier in the Pre-Classic era

In 2003, Dr. Richard D. Hansen, a Senior Scientist from Idaho State University, initiated major investigation, stabilization, and conservation programs at El Mirador with a multi-disciplinary approach, including staff and technical personnel from 52 universities and research institutions from throughout the world. By August 2008, the team had published 168 scientific papers, and produced 474 technical reports and scientific presentations as well as documentary films in the History Channel, National Geographic, the Learning Channel, BBC, ABC’s 20/20 and Good Morning America, 60 Minutes (Australia), and the Discovery Channel.

There are a number of “triadic” structures (around 35 structures), consisting of large artificial platforms topped with a set of 3 summit pyramids. The most notable such structures are three huge complexes; one is nicknamed “El Tigre”, with height 55 metres (180 ft); the other is called “La Danta” (or Danta) temple. The La Danta temple measures approximately 70 metres (230 ft) tall from the forest floor, and considering its total volume (2,800,000 cubic meters) is one of the largest pyramids in the world. When the large man-made platform that the temple is built upon (some 18,000 square meters) is included in calculations, La Danta is considered by some archeologists to be one of the most massive ancient structures in the world. Also the “Los Monos” complex is very large (48 meters high) although not as well known. Most of the structures were originally faced with cut stone which was then decorated with large stucco masks depicting the deities of Maya mythology. According to Carlos Morales-Aguilar, a Guatemalan archaeologist, the city appears to have been planned from its foundation, as extraordinary alignments have been found between the architectural groups and main temples, which were possibly related to solar alignments. The study reflects an importance of urban planning and sacred spaces since the first settlers.

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Airview of La Danta, the worlds largest piramid.

List of tallest ancient structures in the world

Structure Location Height
Ulm Minster Ulm, Germany 529.92 ft 161.53 m
Cologne Cathedral Cologne, Germany 516 ft 157 m
Old St. Paul’s Cathedral London, UK 493 ft 150.2 m
Pyramid of Khufu (Great Pyramid) Giza, Egypt 481 ft 146.6 m
Strasbourg Cathedral Strasbourg, France 472 ft 142 m
Yong Ning Si Ta zh Luoyang, China 136.71 m
Salisbury Cathedral Salisbury, UK 404 ft 123 m
Pharos Lighthouse Alexandria, Egypt 377~492 ft 115~150 m
Jetavanaramaya Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka 400 ft 122 m
New St. Paul’s Cathedral London, UK 365 ft 111.2 m
Ruwanwelisaya Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka 300 ft 92 m
La Danta Temple El Mirador, Guatemala 259 ft 79 m
Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury, UK 235 ft 71.6 m
Templo IV Tikal, Guatemala 230 ft 70 m
Pyramid of the Sun Teotihuacan, Mexico 210~246 ft 64~75 m
Leaning Tower of Pisa Pisa, Italy 191.47 ft 58.36 m
Hagia Sophia Cathedral Istanbul, Turkey 184 ft 56.1 m
El Tigre El Mirador, Guatemala 183 ft 55.8 m
Silbury Hill Avebury, UK 130 ft 40 m
Colossus of Rhodes Rhodes 110 ft 33.5 m

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