A pre-hispanic past
Before the Spaniards arrived in the Honduran territory at the beginning of the 16th century, there were already hundreds of inhabitants in the place. It was a big surprise to realize that in the new continent there were a lot of indigenous people, some of them Lencas, Tolupanes, Misquitos and Chortis. They lived in the valleys, islands and mountains of the territory, and they already had their own established culture and customs. In addition, in other places like Olancho and the Mosquitia, other indigenous groups, with unknown names, lived and had a deep-rooted culture. The impressive Copán Ruins and the Mayan culture is the most representative sample of Honduran archeology. The Mayan civilization in Honduras built one of the most powerful and artistic cities of the Mayan culture.
This majestic city endured throughout the years (250 - 900 AD), with a long dynasty of 16 governors during the Classic period. But the Copán Ruins were not their only creation, the archaeological site El
Puente is a sample of the territorial expansion of Copán.
Honduras has a large number of newly discovered archeological sites and many more waiting for their discovery. To observe the first records of humans in the Honduran territory, visit La Cueva del Gigante, located in Marcala. Researchers say this was the place where hunters and gatherers rested and considered home, starting in the Archaic period (10.000-4,000 AC) through the Formative period (1760-220 DC).