{"id":8378,"date":"2021-12-16T07:46:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T07:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/elsalvadorviajar.com\/en\/?p=8378"},"modified":"2022-11-23T00:45:50","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T00:45:50","slug":"archaeological-cihuatan-monumental-complex-archeological-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elsalvadorviajar.com\/en\/archaeological-sites\/cihuatan\/","title":{"rendered":"\u25b7 CIHUAT\u00c1N ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE \u00bb What to see and discover"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the largest and most fantastic pre-Hispanic localities in Central America is the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/strong>, an extraordinary monumental complex you cannot miss when you come to El Salvador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover all the history of this archaeological site<\/strong>. We are sure you will be amazed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cihuat\u00e1n Data<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Country:<\/th>El Salvador<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Department:<\/th>San Salvador<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Category:<\/th>Archaeological Sites<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Route:<\/th>Mayan Route<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Culture:<\/th>Pipil, Maya and Lenca<\/td><\/tr>
Period:<\/th> 900 to 1200 a.C.<\/td><\/tr>
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Location of Cihuat\u00e1n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Location<\/a>
Location of the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Location and history of the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The impressive Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/strong> is located in the department of San Salvador, specifically in the municipality of Aguilares, almost 37 kilometers north of San Salvador<\/a><\/strong>, the capital of our country.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cihuat\u00e1n
Cihuat\u00e1n Ruins in El Salvador. Photo by ElmerGuevara. Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It occupies an area of approximately 28 hectares, indicating its great importance in its moments of splendor. To the east, we will see the silhouette of the imposing Guazapa Volcano<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to studies, it is presumed that the city was built and entirely inhabited as a regional capital between 900 and 1200 A.D., long after the strange “Mayan collapse,”<\/em><\/strong> its occupant’s indigenous people from different ethnic groups, such as Pipil, Mayan, or Lenca<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cihuat\u00e1n
Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site in El Salvador. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It was built on the hill and meadows of the Acelhuate River<\/strong> and had a strategic position to control traffic between Honduras, what would later become El Salvador<\/strong>, and also the Caribbean Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name of the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site in Nahuatl means “place of the woman.”<\/strong> It is given by the sinuous form of a woman lying on the Cerro de Guazapa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is known for its ceramic trade, from the Guazapa Phase, with Veracruz in Mexico, the Mayas of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cihuat\u00e1n
Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/strong> was suddenly abandoned by its inhabitants around 1100 A.D., and experts debate between two reasons. Some argue that Indians burned the city because of the intense conflicts at that time. In contrast, others say there was a great fire in the months of drought when the forests were dry, and its magnitude was such that they were forced to abandon even their belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Views
Views of the Guazapa Volcano. Photo by Daniel chavez castro. Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In the middle of the 20th century, the vital researcher and archaeologist Stanley H. Boggs made surprising discoveries to the south of the acropolis<\/strong>, composed of remains of ceramics and miniature cups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to see at the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This system of complex buildings<\/strong>‘ urban characteristics is perceived as ideally identifying four zones.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pyramid
Pyramid of Cihuat\u00e1n. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ceremonial Center<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is a fortified enclosure that covers the Primordial Pyramid<\/strong>; there are also two spaces to play ball with bleachers and a structure that is believed to be a Castle. The vast plaza served as a place for the Market.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Views
Views of Cihuat\u00e1n. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

La Campana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is the top of the Primordial Pyramid<\/strong>, which visitors like to climb to have panoramic views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Court or \u201cTlatchtli”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is a corridor of 60 meters long by 30 meters wide inside the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/strong>, where the residents had fun, but it is presumed that it also served as a place of worship.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cihuat\u00e1n
Cihuat\u00e1n ball game area. Photo by ElmerGuevara. Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Fortress or Acropolis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It results in an ample space that supports other buildings<\/strong>. On a small platform, Stanley Boggs found fragments of pottery, and the figure of a dog with wheels, including the burial of a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonio Sol Museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It was opened it in 207 in honor of this researcher, who was one of the first to carry out excavations in this place. It exhibits photos, drawings, and texts related to the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you visit this place and use a bus, you must go to the Terminal de Oriente in San Salvador, take the buses that take the route to Chalatenango<\/a> or La Palma<\/a><\/strong>, and tell the driver to drop you off at the entrance of the ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cihuat\u00e1n\"
Cihuat\u00e1n. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On the other hand, if you travel by car, take the Troncal del Norte highway, and about 4 kilometers from the exit of the town of Aguilares, you will be at the entrance of the Archaeological Park.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All roads to the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/strong> are well signposted so that you can reach this destination without significant inconveniences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendations for visiting the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remember that we are in a tropical country<\/strong>, and especially the area of the Cihuat\u00e1n Archaeological Site<\/strong> is quite hot, so we hope you take into account these suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n