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(Map of Altun Ha from Belize Visitors Bureau) |
Also see... The Jade Head and other interesting stories from Belize and the Mayan world
In 1963 a villager from an area about 30 miles north of Belize City that was know as Rockstone Pond was caught trying to sell a Mayan artifact he had found near his home. In 1964, archeologist David Pendergast was asked to explore the site. Through 1970, the excavation uncovered the remains of a major Mayan city. A stone reservoir from the Mayans survived in the area. So, Pendergast called the site Altun Ha. The literal Mayan translation is "Water of the Rock." It's the closest thing in Mayan to "Rockstone Pond."
No one knows what the Mayans called this city. The area we call Altun Ha was a major Mayan ceremonial and trade center linking the interior of the Mayan world with the Caribbean. The site consists of two main plazas with 13 or so temples and residential structures. |
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The photo on the left was taken from one end of "Plaza A" and shows what the archeologists called "Structure A1".
It is also sometimes referred to as the "Temple of the Green Tomb." |
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This is a reference to the 300 jade objects that were found here in the tomb of a male occupant. Structure A1 dates from the Early Classical Period. |
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To the left, visitors to Altun Ha lookout from atop Structure A1. |
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To the left is the view from atop Structure A1 looking back across Plaza A toward the Temple of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau which is located at the opposite end of Plaza B.
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to the left is the view from the other side of Structure A1 at the bottom looking back up. |
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To the right is a detail of a mask from another structure in Plaza A. This photo reveals that centuries of weathering have all but obscured the intricate mask that was once carved here. |
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To the left, our guide, Daniel from EcoTours, points out the "eyes" and other features that have weathered away on the mask.
The mask detail below is more recognizable. It comes from the Temple of the Sun God or what the archeologists called Structure B4. |
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Here are several views of various structures located around Altun Ha. |
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Probably the best know structure from Altun Ha is the Temple of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau. It is also sometimes referred to as the "Temple of the Masonry Altars." |
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To the right is a view of the temple (Structure B4) from the opposite end of Plaza B. |
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To the left is the view from the bottom of the Temple of the Sun God. The "Masonry Altars" are clearly visible across the middle region and the large main altar looms above. |
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Here is a view of one of the chamber areas within the middle section of the temple. It was in a tomb under these steps leading up to the high altar that the "Jade Head" was found. |
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To the left is the view from atop the main altar of the Temple of the Sun God back across to Plaza A. In the distance you can see the "Temple of the Green Tomb" (Structure A1). |
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Altun Ha is one of the many mysterious, beautiful and wonderful locations in the world of the Mayans. Due to its British heritage, Belize is not normally considered a part of Latin America, but, the Mayans are the first stop on any journey through Latin American History.
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