Belize's Bounty: Exploring The Many Mayan Sites

Belize is home to over 600 ancient Mayan sites, with new sites still being discovered to this day. The sites range from small mounds to large cities, with temples, pyramids, palaces, reservoirs, and more. The ancient Maya were known for their advanced knowledge of astronomy and for constructing large cities containing pyramids and other structures.

The Maya civilisation came to an end around AD 900, but the remains of their once-grand ruins can be found scattered throughout Belize.

Caracol: A Mayan site in western Belize, near the border with Guatemala

Caracol is a Mayan site in western Belize, near the border with Guatemala. It is located on the western edge of the Maya Mountains within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. The site was discovered in 1938 by a logger named Rosa Mai, who was looking for mahogany. That same year, the Archaeological Commissioner, A.H. Anderson, visited the site and named it "Caracol", which means "shell" in Spanish.

Caracol is one of the most important Mayan ruins in Belize. It was once home to more than 140,000 people and covered an area of over 70 square miles, making it larger than modern-day Belize City. The city was abandoned by the Mayans around 900 AD, and some of its structures have since been blanketed by the surrounding jungle. However, it still covers approximately 25,000 acres, offering endless opportunities for exploration.

One of the highlights of Caracol is the Canna ("Sky Palace"), the tallest man-made structure in Belize. This pyramid ascends to a height of 140 feet and houses four palaces and three temples. It also features advanced acoustics, allowing announcements from priests and rulers to be heard by masses of people in the plaza below without any amplification.

In addition to the Sky Palace, Caracol boasts ball courts, an astronomic observatory, reservoirs, alters, and hieroglyphics. The site is still being actively excavated, and much of it remains to be discovered.

To visit Caracol, it is recommended to join a guided tour or make arrangements with operators and hotels in the Cayo District. The site is located about 2.5 hours from San Ignacio town. The drive to Caracol takes visitors through the spectacular scenery of the Chiquibul Rainforest.

Cerros: A Mayan trading centre on the coast of Belize

Cerros, or Cerro Maya, is a Mayan archaeological site located on the coast of Belize, near the Bay of Chetumal and the town of Corozal. It is the only Mayan site in Belize situated on the coast, making it a unique experience compared to other archaeological sites in Central America.

Cerros was a pivotal coastal trading centre for the Mayans from around 400 B.C. to A.D. 100, with a peak population of approximately 1,089 people. The site is strategically located on a peninsula at the mouth of the New River, providing access to both coastal and inland trade routes. The inhabitants of Cerros traded goods such as jade, obsidian, and chert tools, and also engaged in agriculture, utilising the fertile soils and easy access to the sea.

The site consists of several large structures, including stepped pyramids, an acropolis complex, and two ball courts. The most famous building at Cerros is a temple known as Structure 5C-2nd, which is decorated with painted stucco masks representing the sunrise, sunset, morning star, and evening star. Other notable features of Cerros include an extensive canal system, residential structures, and pyramids.

Today, parts of Cerros are unfortunately underwater due to rising sea levels. However, there are still fascinating remains to explore, including the towering temple, which stands at 64 to 72 feet above ground level. Visitors can reach Cerros by boat or road from Corozal Town, and it is recommended to use insect repellent due to the nearby wetlands.

Belize is known for its abundance of Mayan sites, with over 600 identified locations scattered throughout the country. Other notable Mayan sites in Belize include Caracol, the largest known Mayan centre in the country; Xunantunich, featuring the second-tallest temple in Belize; Altun Ha, a major ceremonial and trade centre; and Lamanai, one of the largest and longest-occupied Mayan sites.

Lamanai: A Mayan site in northern Belize, with ruins from multiple time periods

Lamanai, meaning "submerged crocodile" in the Yucatec Maya language, is a significant Mayan archaeological site in northern Belize. It is one of the few Mayan sites that have retained their original name, and it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited zones in the Maya world. The site is renowned for its exceptionally long occupation, spanning over three millennia, from as early as the 16th century BC to the 17th century AD.

Lamanai is located in the Orange Walk District of Belize and covers about 860 acres. The site includes unrestored areas with trails winding through rainforest-covered pyramids, as well as beautifully restored main ceremonial structures. The site is situated along the west bank of the New River Lagoon, which was likely called Dzuluinicob by the Maya.

Lamanai is unique among Classic-period sites in the southern Maya lowlands as it was not abandoned at the end of the 10th century AD. The site became prominent during the Pre-Classic Period, from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD, and continued to be a significant centre until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. The Maya revolt against the Spanish conquest of Yucatán drove the Spanish out of Lamanai, and the site was subsequently incorporated into British Honduras (now Belize).

Lamanai's long occupation is evident in the variety of ruins from different time periods. The earliest monumental architecture at the site dates back to the Late Pre-Classic period (300 BCE-250 CE), with larger masonry structures appearing during the Early Classic period (250-600 CE). Most of the structures visible today are from the Early Classic to the Post-Classic periods (900-1544 CE), with some modifications made as late as the 1400s.

The site features several notable structures, including the Temple of the Masks, the Jaguar Temple, and the High Temple. The Temple of the Masks, also known as Structure N9-56, is located in the northernmost plaza complex and is one of the earliest settled areas of Lamanai, dating back to around 600 BCE. The temple features a pair of well-preserved stucco masks, about 13 feet in height, with human/deity faces and crocodile headdresses.

The Jaguar Temple, or Structure N10-9, is located in the southern complex and rises to a height of about 96 feet. It features two jaguar masks flanking the lower platform stairway. The central stairway continues up to a terrace and then to a leveled summit.

The High Temple, or Structure N10-43, is the tallest structure at Lamanai, reaching a height of about 108 feet. It offers a panoramic view of the surrounding jungle and the nearby New River Lagoon from its summit.

Lamanai is accessible by boat from Orange Walk Town along the New River or by dirt and gravel road through the Mennonite area of Shipyard. The site features a small museum, tourist facilities, and shops.

Altun Ha: A Mayan site with a jade carving of the Mayan sun god

Belize is known as the "epicenter of the ancient Maya world", and once hosted a population of over 2 million Mayas. The country is home to more than 600 Mayan sites, including sacred temples, pyramids, palaces, and other structures. One of these sites is Altun Ha, an ancient Maya city located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Belize City.

Altun Ha is the closest archaeological site to Belize City and was a major ceremonial centre for the Maya. It is unique in that it does not feature any carved stelae. The site consists of two main plazas surrounded by over a dozen Mayan temples, pyramids, and residential structures. Hundreds of other buildings remain covered by jungle foliage. Altun Ha is also rich in wildlife, with species such as armadillos, bats, squirrels, agouti, paca, foxes, raccoons, coati, tyra, tapir, and white-tailed deer calling the area home. It is also a birdwatcher's paradise, with over 200 species of birds recorded in the area.

The most significant find at Altun Ha is the Maya Jade Head, a large jade carving of the Maya sun god, Kinich Ahau. Weighing almost 10 pounds, with a height of 6 inches, it is the largest carved jade object found in any Mayan community in the region. The jade used to create this artefact was imported from ancient mines along the Motagua River valley in eastern Guatemala. The Jade Head is considered the crown jewel of Belize and is watermarked on all Belizean currency. A replica is on display at the Central Bank of Belize.

The Jade Head was discovered in 1963, when quarrying activity by local villagers led to the recovery of this elaborately carved pendant. Starting in 1964, an archaeological team led by Dr David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum began extensive excavations and restorations of the site, which continued through 1970. The tomb in which the Jade Head was found, nicknamed "The Sun God's Tomb", also contained the skeleton of an adult male along with other offerings. The Sun God's Tomb is located in Structure B-4, also called the Temple of the Masonry Altars, which is in Group B of the central precinct at Altun Ha.

The discovery of the Jade Head and other artefacts at Altun Ha provides valuable insights into the ancient Maya world and their trading networks. Altun Ha served as a central trading link between the Caribbean coast and Maya centres in the interior during the Maya Classic Period. The site's strategic location and the presence of the Jade Head suggest that it was an important trade or ceremonial centre.

Xunantunich: A Mayan site with the second-tallest structure in Belize

Belize is home to over 600 ancient Mayan sites, with new sites still being discovered. The country was once the heartland of the ancient Maya Empire and is considered to be part of the southern Maya lowlands of the Mesoamerican culture area.

One of these sites is Xunantunich, a Mayan archaeological site located on the Mopan River in southern Belize, very close to Guatemala. The name Xunantunich means "maiden of the rock" or "stone woman" in Maya. It is estimated that the site is around 3,000 years old, with many of the large structures on view having been built in the 7th century.

Xunantunich was once a prosperous city state and home to 200,000 people—equivalent to two-thirds of Belize's current population. The site was first opened to visitors in 1950 due to its proximity to San Ignacio. Extensive archaeological work has been carried out at Xunantunich, providing a wealth of historical information about the Mayas.

The site's most prominent structure is El Castillo, a pyramid that stands at 130 feet tall, making it the second-tallest structure in Belize. El Castillo is believed to have been used as an ancestral shrine for the ruling family, with friezes depicting gods of creation and the tree of life adorning the structure.

In addition to El Castillo, Xunantunich features six major plazas, more than 25 temples and palaces, and a museum. Visitors can also enjoy impressive views of the surrounding area, including the Mopan River valley and, on a clear day, the Guatemalan border and the Caracol site.

Xunantunich is accessible by crossing the Mopan River via a hand-cranked cable ferry from San José Succotz. The site is then a three-minute drive or a short walk from the ferry.

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