page_title: El Chal
section_title: Panorama Sector
hierarchical_section_title: El Chal / Site description / Panorama Sector
caption_attribution_description: English: Petén wet savanna, dotted with Corozo Palms. La Blanca, Peten, Guatemala. Español: Sabana húmida del Petén, salpicada de corozos. La Blanca, Petén, Guatemala.
context_page_description: El Chal is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site located in the upper San Juan River valley of the southeastern Petén Basin region, Guatemala. The site is situated approximately 30 kilometres to the north of the modern town of Dolores, near the contemporary village settlement of the same name, lying some 600 metres to the south.
  El Chal was occupied from approximately 300 BC through to 1300 AD, although some Middle Preclassic activity has been identified in the acropolis. The Late Preclassic occupation of the city was concentrated around an E-Group ceremonial complex some 2 kilometres north of the later site core. The site's major period of occupation was during the Late Classic Period, when it was an important centre in the southeastern Petén region. Among the structures at the site is a large quadrangular residential complex, a structural type that is uncommonly found at Southern Maya lowland sites although there is a smaller one with similar characteristics at Machaquilá.
  As of 2010 very little restorative work has been undertaken at the site. The archaeological site is protected by the Guatemalan Instituto de Antropología e Historia.
context_section_description: This sector is located within the lands owned by Finca Panorama, some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from El Chal along the highway towards Santa Elena. The altitude is very close to that of the site core, averaging 270 metres (890 ft) above mean sea level. Panorama Sector occupies an area of cattle pasture with very few trees but a great many Corozo Palms, the fruit of which is used locally to produce vegetable oil. The northern part of the sector possesses a number of hills upon which residential groups were built, while towards the south the land descends towards an area of unoccupied seasonal swamps. Panorama Sector possesses 53 architectural groups, 34 of which are in the periphery, together with a causeway.
  Of the ceramic fragments recovered from Panorama Sector, 374 pieces have been dated to the Late Classic, representing 62% of the total ceramics found in the sector. The vast majority of these are domestic in nature. 234 pieces were dated to the Terminal Classic, representing the remaining 38%.
  Group 4 is located 80 metres (260 ft) west of Group 1. It consists of three structures arranged around a courtyard that is open on the south side. Structure 1 is the largest structure in the group. Structures 2 and 3 have been looted. The group has been dated to the Late Classic Period.
  Group 5 is 500 metres (1,600 ft) southwest of Group 1. It consists of three structures laid out around a patio that is open of the east side. Group 5 is dated to the Late Classic.
  Group 6 is 30 metres (98 ft) south of Group 1. Like Group 5 it consists of three structures laid out around a courtyard that is open on the east side. Group 6 is dated to the Late Classic.
  Group 7 is located on a hillside to the east of Group 15. It consists of five structures completely enclosing a patio. Structure 1, on the north side, and Structure 5, on the west side, are the largest structures in the group. Structures 1, 2 and 3 have all been looted. Group 7 dates to the Late Classic Period.
  Group 9 is 20 metres (66 ft) south of Group 7. It consists of 5 structures, four of them are small while the west structure is larger. This group is dated to the Late Classic.
  Group 10 is on a hillside to the southeast of Group 9. It consists of four structures forming an enclosed patio group and dates to the Late Classic.
  Group 15A is located on an artificial platform formed by levelling a natural elevation. The group is formed of six structures, four of these are large and enclose a patio. Two smaller structures are located to the southeast and southwest. The group has been looted, recovered ceramics date to the Late and Terminal Classic.
  Group 15B is situated on the south side of the same artificial platform that supports Groups 15A and 15C.
  Group 15C is situated at the south end of the same artificial platform that supports Group 15A. It is composed of three structures arranged around a patio that is open on the north side. Group 15C has been dated to the Late Classic.
  Group 16 has not been excavated but is notable for a 70-metre (230 ft) long causeway running north-south past its plaza. The causeway is 9 metres (30 ft) wide and bordered by 20-centimetre (7.9 in) high parapets. The original length of the causeway has not been determined. The plaza itself is bordered by the remains of walls that stand 15 to 20 centimetres (5.9 to 7.9 in) high.
  Group 19 consists of three structures laid out around a patio that is open on the south side. The group has been tentatively identified as a stone workshop due to the great quantity of waste product found there, and it may have produced flint cores. Group 19 has been dated to the Terminal Classic. Stela 19 and Altar 9 were found 40 metres (130 ft) east of Group 9. They are the only monuments that have been found in Panorama Sector.
caption: Petén savanna used for cattle ranching, similar to the terrain of Panorama Sector
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