joya de cerén
states: [el salvador]
category: cultural
year: 1993
location: Department of La Libertad, Canton Joya de Ceren, jurisdiction of San Juan Opico
region: Latin America and the Caribbean
latitude/longitude: 13.8275000000, -89.3691666700
unesco id: 675
world heritage site: 675
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Joya de Cerén, a UNESCO World Heritage site in El Salvador, is an ancient Maya farming village famously preserved by volcanic ash from an eruption around 600 AD. Often called the "Pompeii of the Americas," it offers a rare glimpse into daily life with intact structures, tools, and crops like maize and manioc. Discovered in 1976, this archaeological treasure showcases the resilience and ingenuity of its pre-Columbian inhabitants.