Posts Tagged ‘Belize’

  • Rio Azul – Lost Maya City – Part I
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    Rio Azul – Lost Maya City – Part I
    The magnificent ancient Maya City of Rio Azul located in north-east Guatemala spans a 750acres area with a long lost history that has been analysed and unearthed in 1962. The realm of Maya spread across 1,00,000 sq.miles and raised many vast centers in present day Mexico, Guatemala ,Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. The great Maya civilization to which Rio Azul belonged developed in the period between 250 B.C. to A.D. 250. Rio Azul, the administrative centre which at its peak in the eight century A.D. numbered close to 3,500 and another 1,500 in the north east suburb comprised mostly of noble military families along with their assistants, servers and retainers. The classic Mayans maintained articulately controlled landscapes, cultivated fields and water filled canals. They would drain swamps for cultivating crops like beans, corn  [...]
    Posted at July 29th, 2009 at 08:07 am
  • Caracol … Place of Three Hills
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    Caracol … Place of Three Hills
    If all Belize Mayan sites have to be ranked for there importance and grandeur then Caracol would be placed on top of the list. Caracol, or El Caracol as it is locally known lies in the foothills of Maya Mountains at an altitude of 1,500 feet. The city is surrounded by dense forest and lies on the Vaca Plateau. Caracol is one of the largest ancient Maya cities and covers an area of 65 square miles and at its peak had a population of over 2,00,000 people. Mayan settlers moved to Caracol around 1200 BC but the bulk of construction happened in between 300 AD and 800 AD. Archeologists have significant proof that the city attacked and conquered Tikal in 562 AD. Later the city also conquered Naranjo in AD 631. These two conquests boosted the military and economic might of the city and propelled population grown in the region. The main structure  [...]
    Posted at May 22nd, 2009 at 01:05 am
  • Altun Ha Ruins of Belize
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    Altun Ha Ruins of Belize
    Altun Ha which means Rockstone Pond has been a settlement since 250 BC and is an hour by road for Belize City. It gets its name from the neighboring village of Rockstone Pond. Construction of the main buildings started in the city around 100 AD and continued till the 10th century. It is believed that there was mass looting in Altun Ha in the year 900 AD and it was a form of revolt against the ruler of the city. The city has an area of around 5 square miles. The main structures in the city are the two central plazas which are surrounded by towering temples. At its peak the city was inhabited by over 10,000 inhabitants and was an important trading centre in the region. The largest pyramid in The Temple of the Masonry Altars and has a height of 54 feet. It is thought to have been the focal point of the community’s religious activities  [...]
    Posted at May 21st, 2009 at 05:05 pm
  • Lamanai….. City of Crocodiles
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    Lamanai….. City of Crocodiles
    Located on the banks for the New River Lagoon is the ancient ceremonial centre of Lamanai. The impressive Mayan ruins are the largest in Belize and the English translation of Lamanai means submerged crocodile. The city has one of the longest occupation span amongst all Mayan cities lasting over 3,000 years. The city is well engulfed by the forest and one has to climb on top of the temple pyramids to actually get a real picture of the surrounding landscape. Lamanai is also amongst the very few Mayan cities where the archeologists have uncovered the original name. It is believed that the occupation of the city started in 1500 BC, but the majority of the city construction started around 4th century BC and the Mayan’s occupied the city till 1600 AD. At its peak more then 35,000 Mayan’s lived in the city. Today much of the city remains  [...]
    Posted at May 21st, 2009 at 08:05 am