the conventional name of one of the largest city-states of the ancient Maya, in what is now Guatemala. Tikal existed from the sixth century B.C. to the ninth century A.D. Archaeological excavations of its ruins have been conducted by scholars of the USA and Guatemala since the early 20th century.
Discoveries at the Tikal site include hundreds of temples (the main temple reaching a height of 71 m) and palaces of the aristocracy, including one five-storey structure. Other finds include stelae with reliefs and inscriptions, altars, carved wooden lintels in the temples, and remarkable works of applied art. The most important monuments of Tikal have been partially restored.