Cotzumalhuapa civilization
Quick Summary
The Cotzumalhuapa civilization was a complex of nine ceremonial centers on the Pacific coast plain of Guatemala. It flourished during the Early and Late Classic periods, showing influences from various Mesoamerican cultures, including the lowland Maya, Classic Central Veracruz, and Teotihuacán.1
The civilization's sculptures feature hieroglyphic writing, primarily dates within a 52-year Calendar Round, with day glyphs of Mexican origin rather than Maya. The exact nature of their relationship with the Pipil people, who spoke a Nahua language and inhabited the same region, remains unclear, though it's possible these Classic sites were Pipil capitals.1
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