Dis­cov­ered in 1570 by Diego Gar­cía de Pala­cio, the ruins of Copán, one of the most impor­tant sites of the Mayan civ­i­liza­tion, were not exca­vat­ed until the 19th cen­tu­ry. The ruined citadel and impos­ing pub­lic squares reveal the three main stages of devel­op­ment before the city was aban­doned in the ear­ly 10th cen­tu­ry.