Dos Pilas Means "Two Pools" in Spanish and was named after two springs near the ruins that look a bit like water tanks. The ruins lie about 10 miles southwest of Sayaxché in the Rio de la Pasion region. Dos Pilas is a late Classic site inhabited from around 600 to 760 C.E. At the site there are two concentric walls and 16 well preserved carved stelae, other carvings and a network of caves has been found. The site also contains 19 altars, 19 panels, a hieroglyphic bench, and 4 hieroglyphic stairways. Depiction's of captives kneeling at the feet of the ruler, is a common image. The most beautiful sculpture of Dos Pilas is called the Red Stela because it retains red, blue, and yellow colored stucco. Ceramic artifacts where recently found in a tomb probably belonging to one of its rulers. Much of the site has not been excavated. The stelae at Dos Pilas tell us that in the late Classic its rulers resorted to warfare in order to expand their domains in the region. This may be the same information recorded at Aguateca, and it proclaims the victory of the Lord of Pilas over Seibal on the third of December, 735 C.E. It is thought that Dos Pilas was abandoned due to these constant wars. It has been named an Archaeological Park and a National Monument. The site is best visited in the dry season, because in winter the ground turns swampy.
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