Copan is another very important ceremonial center, is is located in the valley of the same name, in the western portion of the Republic of Honduras.

There is no dates as to when it was occupied, not of the origin or its name. It is believed that was named long after it was abandoned, in honor of a native chief called Copan Calel, who fought the Spaniards in 1530.

The Honduran authorities have converted it into a magnificent national park, with citrus trees and flowering vines. Selected native ornamental tree wee allowed to remain, so as to give it greater beauty.

About 1,500 miles away from the ceremonial center, a small village was founded in 1870, under the name of San Jose Copan the village is still growing and prospering.

Despite it size and number of structures, its buildings do not in any way compare, either in size, esthetics or grandeur, to other ceremonial centers such as Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal, etc., however, the fine finish on some of its structures that has made Copan famous.

According to a number of researchers, it seems that Copan was noted for its great scientific achievements.

It was one of the most destroyed places and it is not known if this was done intentionally at the time it was abandoned, or it i.e. was due to particularly hard ravages of time.