| El Lagartero | |
| Native Name: | El Lagartero |
| Native Name Lang: | es |
| Imagealttext: | A melting pyramid built over a Cenote |
| Map Type: | Mexico |
| Map Alt: | Located on a group of jungle islands in the Lagos de Colón of the municipality of La Trinitaria in the state of Chiapas, Mexico |
| Coordinates: | 15.8275°N -91.8839°W |
| Location: | Chiapas, Mexico[1] |
| Type: | Settlement |
| Built: | CE.300 |
| Abandoned: | CE.1400 |
| Epochs: | Classical period - Post classical period |
| Cultures: | Mayan |
| Archaeologists: | Thomas Lee |
| Public Access: | free |
El Lagartero (English: The Lizardman) is an archaeological zone of the pre-Hispanic Mayan culture located on a group of jungle islands in the Lagos de Colón of the in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. In accordance with archaeological investigations, the site was developed between the years CE.300 to 1400, corresponding to the and the of Mesoamerica and constituted an important religious center of the region, its inhabitants were speakers of Jacalteco language.[2]
The site stands out for its natural landscapes with abundant vegetation surrounded by lakes and the architecture of its buildings. The main group is located on the island of El Limonal and contains a ceremonial center made up of four stepped pyramids. The rest of the ancient sites, including altars, causeways, patios, stone structures and a ball court, are located scattered throughout the isles, which make up the place.[3]
It's located in the municipality of La Trinitaria in Chiapas, in Mexico, within a series of islands and insular areas of the Lagos de Colón and the Ciénega del Lagartero, the ceremonial center is built on the largest island, called El Limonal, and is made up of a plaza surrounded by four pyramids.[4]
Numerous burials, ceramics, figures with female representations that show the embroidery of the huipiles and headdresses used by women of the time, objects of jadeite, representations of aquatic animals and a complete stele that narrates a scene of conquest. Excavations have been taking place here regularly since CE.1993. It was in CE.2009 that a well-preserved stele was discovered here, which records the war between this city and a nearby city in the CE.11th century.[5]