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| The Olmec Boulder, a stone sculpture of a giant head found near Chalchuapa in western El Salvador, is evidence of Olmec presence in the region from at least 2000 BC. The step-pyramid ruins at Tazumal and San Andrés show that the Maya also also lived in western El Salvador for over 1000 years. Groups that inhabited the eastern part of the country included the Chorti, Lenca and Pok'omame. Cuzcatlan was also occupied by the Pipil, descendants of Nahuatl-speaking Toltecs and Aztecs. El Salvador/Cuzcatlan is an important part of the ancient Mayan world: impressive step pyramid ruins at Tazumal and San Andres testify to the once large and sophisticated Mayan civilization. Pre-Columbian culture in El Salvador has left many archeological sites, the most important being: Tazumal, the pyramids of Campana San Andres, the ball of Cihuatan, the Ruins of Quelepa and Cara Sucia, and Joya de Ceren, a well preserved Maya site with dwellings buried under 20 feet of volcanic ash clutter Together with Guatemala, Honduras, México and Belize, El Salvador is part of the "Mayan World Route", a tourist itinerary that takes the visitor to the most important vestiges of Meso American history. |