Guatemala Guide
Guatemala City
Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología
Address: Zona 13
Opening time: Tues– Fri 9am–4pm, Sat & Sun 9am– noon & 1.30–4pm
Price: US$4
The Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología features a world-class selection of Maya artefacts, though the design and displays are very antiquated, and most labels are in Spanish only. The collection has sections on prehistoric archeology and ethnology and includes some wonderful stelae from Machaquilá and Dos Pilas, a re-creation of a royal tomb from Río Azul, spectacular jade masks from Takalik Abaj and a stunning replica of a wooden lintel from Tikal's temple IV. However, it's the exhibits collected from Piedras Negras, one of the most remote sites in Petén, that are most impressive. Stela 12, dating from 672 AD, brilliantly depicts a cowering captive king begging for mercy; also on display is a monumental carved stone throne (J–6) from the same site, richly engraved with superb glyphs and decorated with a twin-faced head.