List of Mesoamerican pyramids


This is a list of Mesoamerican pyramids or ceremonial structures. In most cases they are not true pyramids. There are hundreds of these in many different styles throughout Mexico and Central America. These were made by several pre-Columbian cultures including the Olmecs, Maya, Toltecs, and Aztecs. In most cases they were made by city states that created many structures in the same style. The style for each city state is usually different. These are usually made out of stone and mortar but some of the earliest may have been made out of clay.
SiteName of pyramidCultureBase length Height Incli- nationApproximate time of constructionFunctionNotesImage
Altun Ha
Belize
Maya16200 to 900 CE
Cañada de la Virgen
Mexico
Pirámide Chichimeca de los 7 CielosOtomi15+540 to 1040 CEThe Pyramids and surrounding complex were built to house priests, along with serving as a burial ground.These are the only Otomi pyramids we currently know of.
Caracol
Belize
CaanaMaya43A triadic pyramid, Caana is the highest man-made structure in Belize
Caracol
Belize
Temple of the Wooden LintelMaya
Lamanai
Belize
High TempleMaya33Pre-Classic Period
Lamanai
Belize
Jaguar TempleMaya20Pre-Classic Period
Lamanai
Belize
Mask TempleMaya17Early Classic Period
Lubaantun
Belize
Maya730 to 890 CELubaantun's structures are mostly built of large stone blocks with no mortar, using primarily black slate rather than limestone.
Tula
Mexico
Pyramid BToltecThe pyramid is dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, and topped with Atlantean columns, carved like warriors.
Lubaantun
Belize
Maya730 to 890 CELubaantun includes many small step pyramids in addition to its far larger one.
Nim Li Punit
Belize
BuildingMaya12400 to 800 CENim Li Punit has several small-step pyramids, but none that possessed the sheer mass of other examples.
Xunantunich
Belize
El CastilloMaya40600 to 900 CE
San Andrés
El Salvador
the Bell of San AndrésMaya600 to 900 CEThis is a scale model of structure 5. There are several other smaller structures that may be similar to pyramids on the site.
Tazumal
El Salvador
Maya250 to 900 CE
Aguateca
Guatemala
Maya6760 to 830 CEThis temple pyramid was left unfinished when the city was abandoned. Its purpose is still unknown.
Dos Pilas
Guatemala
LD-49Maya20after 629 CEThis pyramid's main stairway contains at least eighteen hieroglyphic steps. However, some glyphs are undecipherable due to age.
Dos Pilas
Guatemala
Mayaafter 629 CEThis temple pyramid was built by enlarging and terracing a natural hill some way from the site core, giving the impression of a single massive structure.
Kaminaljuyu
Guatemala
Maya250 CEKaminaljuyu contains some 200 platforms and pyramidal mounds, at least half of which were made before 250 CE. Some were used to hold temples.
El Mirador
Guatemala
La DantaMaya72300 BCE to 100 CELa Danta pyramid temple has an estimated volume of 2,800,000 cubic meters, making it one of the largest pyramids in the world.
El Mirador
Guatemala
El TigreMaya55300 BCE to 100 CE
Mixco Viejo
Guatemala
Maya1100 to 1500 CE
Tikal
Guatemala
Temple IMaya47
Copán
Honduras
MayaCopán has several overlapping step-pyramids.
El Puente
Honduras
Structure 1Maya12600 BCE- 900 CEReligious temple
Acanceh
Mexico
Maya11
Becán
Mexico
Structure IXMaya42
Bonampak
Mexico
The Temple of the MuralsMaya580 to 800 CE
Calakmul
Mexico
Structure IMaya40
Calakmul
Mexico
The Great Pyramid - Structure IIMaya55400 BC - 800 CE
Castillo de Teayo
Mexico
Castillo de TeayoHuastec11
Chacchoben
Mexico
Temple 1Maya20
Chakanbakán
Mexico
NohochbalamMaya
Chichen Itza
Mexico
El Castillo Maya55.330
Chichen Itza
Mexico
Temple of the WarriorsMaya121200 CE
Chichen Itza
Mexico
OssuaryMaya10
Chinkultic
Mexico
Maya600 to 900 CE
Cholula
Mexico
The Great Pyramid of Cholula450 sq.66300 BCE - 800 CEThe largest pyramid and the largest manmade monument anywhere in the Americas.
Coba
Mexico
Nohoch MulMaya42500 to 900 CE
Coba
Mexico
La IglesiaMaya20500 to 900 CE
Coba
Mexico
Crossroads TempleMaya500 to 900 CE
Comalcalco
Mexico
Temple 1Maya20600 CE to 900 CEThe city's buildings were made from fired-clay bricks with mortar made from oyster shells, unique among Maya sites. Many are decorated with iconography and/or hieroglyphs.
Dzibanche
Mexico
Kinichna
Pyramid
Maya
Dzibanche
Mexico
Temple of the CormorantsMaya36400 CE to 600 CEKaanu'l dynasty royal burials
Dzibanche
Mexico
Temple of the LintelsMaya
Dzibanche
Mexico
Temple of the OwlMaya
Edzna
Mexico
Building of the Five FloorsMaya
El Cerrito
Mexico
Pyramid of El CerritoChichimec30
El Lagartero
Mexico
El Limonal PyramidMaya
El Tajín
Mexico
Pyramid of the NichesClassic Veracruz18
Guachimontones
Mexico
Circle 2
Teuchitlán10Characterized by the unusual circular pyramid structure, a unique architectural form in Mesoamerica.
Huatusco
Mexico
Cuauhtochco pyramidAztecTeocalli
Ichkabal
Mexico
Structure E4Maya46
Izamal
Mexico
Chaltún Há
Pyramid
Maya8
Izamal
Mexico
Itzamatul
Pyramid
Maya26
Izamal
Mexico
Kinich Kakmó PyramidMaya34400 to 600 CE
La Venta
Mexico
The Great PyramidOlmec33394 ± 30 BCEThis is one of the earliest pyramids known in Mesoamerica. It was made out of an estimated 100,000 cubic meters of earth fill.
Labna
Mexico
El MiradorMaya13
Mayapan
Mexico
Maya15
Moral-Reforma
Mexico
Conjunto 14Maya37
Palenque
Mexico
Temple of the CountMaya
Palenque
Mexico
Temple of the CrossMaya
Palenque
Mexico
Temple of the InscriptionsMaya22.8>675Bore the [Classic Maya civilization|Maya language|Classic Maya] name B'olon Yej Te' Naah "House of the Nine Sharpened Spears".
Palenque
Mexico
Temple of the SunMaya19
Santa Cecilia Acatitlan
Mexico
Aztec17 by 278In 1962, the architect and archaeologist Eduardo Pareyon Moreno reconstructed the pyramid's basement and the temple that crowns it.
Tenayuca
Mexico
Aztec62 by 50This is the earliest example yet found of the typical Aztec double pyramid, which consists of joined pyramidal bases supporting two temples.
Tenochtitlan
Mexico
Templo MayorAztec100 by 80601390 to 1500 CETenochtitlan was destroyed by the Spanish. Recreations of this and other pyramids are based on historical text and archaeological ruins.
Tenochtitlan
Mexico
Aztec1325 to 1521 CETenochtitlan, the Aztec capital city, was completely razed by the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés. Recreations the city are based on historical text and archaeological ruins. This site once included at least half a dozen pyramids.
Teotihuacan
Mexico
Pyramid of the SunTeotihuacano223.571.232.5100 BCEThere are also dozens of platforms 4 stories high lining the Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacan. Each step in each story creates a stairway to the top in front of the platforms.
Teotihuacan
Mexico
Pyramid of the MoonTeotihuacano43100 BCE
Teotihuacan
Mexico
Temple of the Feathered SerpentTeotihuacano
El Tepozteco
Mexico
Aztec1502 CE
Tula
Mexico
Toltec
Uxmal
Mexico
Pyramid of the MagicianMaya40
Uxmal
Mexico
La Gran PiramideMaya30
Xochicalco
Mexico
Temple of the Feather Serpent200 BCE to 900 CE
Xochicalco
Mexico
200 BCE to 900 CEThis is one of several other step-pyramid temples in addition to the Temple of the Feather Serpent
Xochitecatl
Mexico
The Pyramid of Flowers100 by 140the Preclassic Period
Xochitecatl
Mexico
The Spiral Building700 BCEThis is a circular stepped pyramid. The interior consists of volcanic ash. The building has no stairway to the top, it was climbed by following the spiral form of the building itself.
Yaxchilan
Mexico
Maya600 to 900 CEThis is one of the pyramids on the upper terrace of Yaxchilan
Yarumela
Honduras
Estructure 101Lenca201000 BCE to 250 CEReligious temple used for different ceremonies
Tikal
Guatemala
Tikal Temple IVMaya88 by 6564.6741 ADThe pyramid was built to mark the reign of the 27th king of the Tikal dynastyTemple IV at the Classic Period Maya ruins of Tikal, 8th century AD, Peten Department, Guatemala.
Tikal
Guatemala
Tikal Temple VMaya51 by 3657700 ADSecond tallest in Tikal after Temple IV, tallest completely unearthed.
Toniná
Mexico
Great Pyramid of TonináMaya75200 to 900 CEThe Great Pyramid of Toniná is the tallest Maya and Mesoamerican pyramid and also the tallest Pre Columbian building in the Americas.
Tzintzuntzan
Mexico
5 yácata pyramidsPurépechaLate post-classic periodThe pyramids are rounded and have a distinguishable T-like shape.