Quirigua is a small, yet significant Maya archaeological zone located along the banks of the Montagau River, which forms part of the border between Guatemala and Honduras. Quiriguá is an archaeological site dating to the Classic Maya period. The monumental complex of pyramids, terraces, and stairways echoes a time when the city prospered from trade in jade and obsidian under the rule of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, between 724 and 785.
Quiriguá is best known for its superb sculptures, including sandstone stelae carved with striking anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures. The tallest Maya stela ever discovered was found in Quiriguá, which depicts ruler Kak’ Tiliw Chan Yopaat is a stunning 35 feet/11 meters in height with a weight of some 65 tons. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
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