Joya de Ceren, El Salvador

Joya de Ceren was a village that was buried by a volcano in 600 A.D.

Joya de Ceren, in El Salvador, was a small Mayan farming village. While it’s not “grand” in the same scale as the Tikal Ruins in Guatemala, it offers a compelling view of how everyday Mayans lived their lives.

In 600 A.D., a volcano buried the whole village. Since no bodies were found, it was believed the people made it out in time. It was discovered in 1976 and excavation has since continued.