Tak'alik Ab'aj is a pre-Columbian archaeological site in Guatemala. It was formerly known as Abaj Takalik; its ancient name may have been Kooja. It is one of several Mesoamerican sites with both Olmec
Excavations of the Middle Preclassic ballcourt at Takalik Abaj
Obsidian artefacts recovered from Takalik Abaj, including prismatic blades and obsidian cores.
Stela 5 from Takal'ik Ab'aj. The latest of the two Long Count dates is equivalent to a date in AD 126. The dates are flanked by rulers, probably symbolising the passing of power from one king to the next. Click here for a photo of this stela.
Early Classic cylindrical polychrome vessel from Takalik Abaj
Potbelly sculptures are in-the-round sculptures of obese human figures carved from boulders. They are a distinctive element of the sculptural tradition in the southern Maya area of Mesoamerica. The pr
A potbelly sculpture from Monte Alto in Guatemala, on display in the plaza of La Democracia
Takalik Abaj Monument 99, a potbelly style colossal head with a puffed face suggestive of a bloated cadaver.
A potbelly sculpture from Monte Alto, on display in La Democracia
Monument 109 at Takalik Abaj, a small potbelly sculpture.