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Substantially smaller than Tikal, the ruins at Uaxactun are thought to date from the same era. During the Preclassic period Uaxactun and Tikal coexisted in relative harmony, both being dominated by El Mirador, but by the first century AD, with El Mirador in decline, a fierce rivalry developed between Tikal and Uaxactun. The two finally clashed in 378 AD, when Tikal's warriors conquered Uaxactun, forcing it to accept subordinate status. The overall impact of Uaxactun may be a little disappointing after the grandeur of Tikal, but for a sense of the forest this is an excellent spot to make for, and you'll probably have the site to yourself. The most interesting buildings are in Group E , east of the airstrip, where three reconstructed temples, built side by side, are arranged to function as an observatory. Viewed from the top of a fourth temple, the sun rises behind the north temple on the longest day of the year and behind the southern one on the shortest day. Beneath one of these temples the famous E-VII was unearthed, the oldest building ever found in Peten, once thought to date back to 2000 BC, though a much later date is now accepted. The original pyramid had a simple staircase up the front, flanked by two stucco masks, and post holes in the top suggest that it may have been covered by a thatched shelter. Over on the other side of the airstrip is Group A , a series of larger temples and residential compounds, some of them reconstructed, and some impressive stelae.
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