Tikal is an ancient Mayan city located in the rainforests of northern Guatemala. The city is often regarded as the most important Mayan urban center of the civilization’s classical period. To this day, only 15% of structures in Tikal have been excavated. The reasons for the lack of excavation are due to:

1. Low funding (it takes 10+ years to properly excavate a ruin).

2. Preservation (the best way to preserve a ruin is to leave it unexcavated).

 

The development of projects in Mayan archeological sites are usually controversial because not only the ruins themselves but also the surrounding environment are highly protected. Hence, construction in these areas raise questions regarding the site’s authenticity, preservation, and damage to the ecosystem.

 

While I believe that these sites should be left untouched to preserve the richness of their history and environment, the development of future projects in this area is inevitable. So, the second-best way to go about it is to develop projects that are non-intrusive. Moreover, developing a project in this site presents an opportunity to conduct proper archeological excavation, research, and to educate the public about this great civilization.