Archaeologists' Abandoned Camp – Tikal, Guatemala - Atlas Obscura

Archaeologists' Abandoned Camp

The remnants of an archaeological camp stand within Tikal National Park. 

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Within Tikal National Park, you’ll find the remains of a camp used by University of Pennsylvania archeologists between 1956 and 1969 during the exploration of the Mayan site of Tikal. The 13-year project resulted in the completion of a topographical map of an area of 16 square kilometers of the site of Tikal. When occupied, the camp included a settlement for archaeologists and single workers, and a separate settlement for married workers that featured a sawmill, a school, and a dispensary. 

The wooden barracks housing the researchers have long been dismantled. The cars and camp equipment - material traces of the UPenn project - rust quietly in the lush vegetation.

 

Know Before You Go

The site lies within Tikal National Park, and tickets are required to access the site. The entry fee for the park is 150Q per person, per day. The park itself is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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