Joya de Ceren

About

Joya de Ceren was settled around 200 AD by Mayan farmers, and is estimated to have reached a population of around 200. When the Loma Caldera erupted around 600 AD, the settlement was buried in ash, and forgotten until 1976 when a bulldozer unearthed some of the structures. So far, 18 structures have been unearthed, including houses, store houses, and religious buildings. What set Joya de Ceren apart from almost any other archaeological site in the Americas were the fossilized artefacts, ranging from garden tools to animal remains and religious items, which has offered an invaluable insight into the lives of Mayan farmers. At the onsite museum, you can learn about the site and Mayan culture in general before setting off to examine the remains of the village.