Belize City To Caracol: A Journey Through Time And Space

The ancient Mayan city of Caracol is located deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve of Western Belize, around 25 miles south of San Ignacio. The site is around 150km from Belize City, and the drive takes around two hours.

The remote location of Caracol in the foothills of the Maya Mountains means that it is a challenging journey, and the site is only accessible via a poorly maintained jungle road. The route is a mixture of dirt and paved roads, and a 4x4 vehicle is required to traverse the terrain.

The journey is well worth the effort, however, as Caracol is one of the most interesting and well-preserved ancient Maya sites in Belize. The city once housed up to 180,000 people and is far bigger than Belize City. Caracol boasts impressive structures such as the Caana ('Sky Palace'), which is the tallest man-made structure in Belize.

Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in the Cayo District of Belize

Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, in western Belize, near the border with Guatemala. The site is impressive not only for its size but also for its immense agricultural field system and elaborate city planning.

Caracol is one of the most pristine and well-kept Maya sites in Belize. Covering an area of nearly 25,000 acres, Caracol is the largest known Maya ruin in Belize. It had a complex urban centre spreading over 200 square kilometres and a population of over 100,000 people at its height. It was rediscovered in 1937 and has since served as an important resource for understanding ancient Mayan civilisations.

Caracol was once the home to 150,000 people, the largest Maya Centre in Belize, and has a dominant place in Maya history. It was larger in population and area than present-day Belize City.

Caracol's central core consists of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with a number of smaller structures. The largest temple at Caracol is "Caana" or "Sky Place". This massive pyramid rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor and is the tallest manmade structure in Belize. Caana contains four palaces and three temples. The palace rooms were originally coated with white stucco and decorated with red paint.

Caracol is a modern name from the Spanish: "caracol" ('snail, shell'), but more generally meaning spiral or volute-shaped – apparently because of the winding access road that led to the site. The site was first reported by a native logger named Rosa Mai, who came across its remains in 1937 while searching for mahogany hardwood trees to exploit. Mai reported the site to the archaeological commission for British Honduras, today Belize.

The site was rediscovered in 1937/1938 by a logger named Rosa Mai

Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Cayo District of Belize. It is one of the largest Maya sites in Central America and the largest in Belize. The site was rediscovered in 1937 by a logger named Rosa Mai. Mai was searching for mahogany trees in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve when she stumbled upon the ruins.

Mai reported her discovery to the archaeological commission for British Honduras, now Belize. The following year, in 1938, the archaeological commissioner, A. Hamilton Anderson, visited the site. He spent two weeks exploring Caracol with his colleague, Hugh Blockley Jex, who later became the Inspector of Crown Licence. It was Anderson who gave the site its modern name, "Caracol", which means "snail shell" in Spanish and refers to the winding access road that leads to the site.

During their time at the site, Anderson and Jex conducted preliminary surveys, noting nine carved monuments and the structures of the A-Group Plaza. They also undertook limited excavations in two locations. Later, Anderson and Linton Satterthwaite discovered 40 stone monuments.

Caracol is believed to have been occupied initially around 600 BC and was significantly transformed by the Maya at various points in history. The city was likely abandoned around 1050 CE for unknown reasons, possibly due to droughts and famine.

Today, Caracol is a well-preserved ancient Maya site, with ongoing excavations and investigations revealing more about this fascinating civilisation.

Caracol is believed to have existed from around 1200 BC to around AD 950

Caracol is an ancient Mayan archaeological site located in Belize. It is believed to have existed from around 1200 BC to around AD 950, with its peak occurring during the Classic Period (c. 250-900 AD).

The site was first reported in 1937 by a native logger named Rosa Mai, who came across its remains while searching for mahogany trees. The site was then noted and documented archaeologically in 1938 by A. Hamilton Anderson, the archaeological commissioner at the time.

Caracol is believed to have been occupied as early as 1200 BC, with the earliest structures dating from the Late Pre-Classic Period. During this time, small sedentary villages began to develop, along with larger centres and monumentality.

By the Early Classic Period (c. 250-550 AD), Caracol was tied into extensive trade networks and pan-lowland ideological systems, leading to a unified regional economy. The city was officially founded in AD 331 by Te' K'ab Chaak and became a client state of the powerful city of Tikal, located just across the border in modern-day Guatemala.

Caracol's influence grew significantly during the mid-6th century, and by AD 553, Lord Water (Yajaw Te' K'inich II) had ascended to power. Under his rule, Caracol enacted the first known "star war" in 562 AD, defeating Tikal's Lord Wak Chan K'awiil. This victory marked the beginning of a 120-year hiatus at Tikal, during which its population declined and the construction of new monuments ceased.

Following this victory, Caracol continued to expand its influence in the region. In AD 618, Lord K'an II became the new ruler of Caracol and reigned for 40 years. During his rule, Caracol's population and prosperity increased, and the city's causeway system was expanded.

However, by the end of the 7th century, Caracol's power began to wane due to the reemergence of Tikal, defeat by Naranjo, and competition from the rising kingdom of Dos Pilas. By the early 10th century, Caracol experienced a collapse similar to that of other Mayan cities, and it was eventually abandoned by the middle of the 11th century.

The city had a network of more than 20 miles of roads and a radius of about 10km

Caracol, a large ancient Maya archaeological site, is located in the Cayo District of Belize, approximately 25 miles south of San Ignacio. The site was first reported in 1937 by a native logger named Rosa Mai, and was subsequently named by the British head archaeologist in 1938.

Caracol covered approximately 200 square kilometres, an area much larger than present-day Belize City, and supported a population of over 100,000 people at its height. The city's central core consisted of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with smaller structures. The site is characterised by a network of roads and causeways, with the largest building, Caana ("Sky Palace"), situated on the north end of the B-Group Plaza.

Caana is the tallest man-made structure in Belize, standing at 43 metres tall. It contains four palaces and three temples, with the palace rooms originally coated in white stucco and decorated with red paint. Over 100 tombs have been found on the site, along with a rich array of hieroglyphic inscriptions.

The city's impressive scale is not limited to its built environment, with an extensive agricultural field system surrounding the site. Caracol's remote location in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, surrounded by tropical rainforest, has preserved the site, making it one of the most pristine and well-kept Maya sites in Belize.

Caracol is a protected site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Caracol is an ancient Maya archaeological site located in Belize's Cayo District. It is one of the most well-preserved ancient Maya sites in Belize, with a rich history dating back to the Classic Period. The site was first reported in 1937 by a native logger, Rosa Mai, and later named by the local British head archaeologist in 1938, who dubbed it Caracol, which means "snail shell" in Spanish, due to the curving access road that leads to the site.

• Cultural and Historical Significance: Caracol is an ancient Maya site that dates back to the Classic Period. It was once a powerful city-state with a population of up to 180,000 people, allying and fighting with other city-states like Naranjo and Tikal. The site boasts a rich history, with over 53 carved stone monuments, including stelae and altars, as well as reservoirs, causeways, and a sophisticated astronomical observatory.
• Architectural and Archaeological Importance: Caracol is the largest known ancient Maya site in Belize, covering an area of approximately 200 square kilometres. The site includes impressive structures such as the Canaa ("Sky Palace"), which is the tallest building in Belize at 43 metres (141 feet) high. Additionally, Caracol features over 35,000 smaller buildings, more than 100 tombs, and various religious altars and ball courts.
• Conservation and Preservation: As a protected site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Caracol is legally protected and conserved for future generations. This ensures that the site is safeguarded from potential threats, such as human trespassing, uncontrolled urbanisation, or natural disasters. The recognition also helps attract funds for conservation efforts and promotes sustainable tourism that benefits the local community.
• Universal Value: Caracol is not just significant to Belize but is recognised by UNESCO as having outstanding universal value. It represents a remarkable accomplishment of humanity and is an important part of our shared intellectual history. The site provides valuable insights into the ancient Maya civilisation, their architecture, urban planning, and cultural traditions.
• Outstanding Natural Beauty: Located in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, Caracol is surrounded by tropical rainforests and boasts stunning natural scenery. The site is also home to diverse wildlife, including oscellated turkeys, tapirs, jungle birds, and howler monkeys.

By recognising Caracol as a protected site and including it on the World Heritage List, UNESCO aims to preserve this ancient Maya city for future generations, ensuring that its cultural, historical, and natural significance can be appreciated and studied for years to come.

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