Lamanai
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Lamanai,
located on the New River in Orange Walk
District,
is known for being the longest continually-occupied site in
Mesoamerica.
The thriving crocodile
population in the nearby New River lagoon gave Lamanai his Name.
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Click any Pictures to enlarge
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Many
of Lamanai's main structures and excavated artifacts exhibits
representate the famed reptile. Lamanai is the Spanish historic
name
for Lama’ an/ayin, which means “submerged crocodile.”
Some of Lamanai's ruins are some of the oldest in Belize.
Archaeologists believe the Mayan site was of moderate size as early as
1500 BC. However, some of its later structures were occupied as
recently as the 18th century AD, signifying over 3200 years of
occupation.
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With a population exceeding
35,000 at the height of the city's power, Lamanai's trading influence
extended over the borders of present-day Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,
and Belize Still, of the around 800 buildings within the complex,
less
than five percent have been excavated and explored.
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Aside
from the
central pyramid, thick forest has consumed many of the limestone mounds
that housed the thousands of Mayan inhabitants. Although Spanish
conquistadors held considerable sway over Lamanai by the 16th century,
even establishing a Christian church near its center, a native
rebellion eventually drove the Spaniards out. The extant remains of the
church are still standing today.
Not like other ancient ruins, much of the Lamanai Belize archaeological
site was built in layers. Successive populations built upon the temples
of their ancestors, instead of destroying them.
Today hundreds of ruins are said to remain unexcavated in the nearby
jungle, the most impressive temples have been renovated:
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Jaguar Temple
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The
Jaguar Temple (N10-9), is named for its boxy jaguar decoration. The
Temple
rises
in 9 tiers to about 65 ft. and on the north side is a wide basal
stairway. Next to the stairway on the lower level is a mask of a jaguar
with a protruding nose. The
Jaguar Temple was original build in the sixth century.
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In the long lasting occupation of
Lamanai, the Temple was redesigned in the thirteenth century. It was an
ongoing process of modification, the last one where tiny shrines made
around the Year 1400.
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Ball Court
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Lamanai's
ball court features a circular stone center marker, underneath which a
ceremonial vessel containing liquid mercury was found. The 9,7 cu cm
mercury came probably
from Honduras. It was the first reported discovery of mercury in
the Maya lowlands.
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The ball game, which
was a common activity of all Mesoamerican peoples
and originated about 3,000 B.C., had a ritualistic function for the
ancient Maya. Two teams (the number of players depended on the region
where the game
was played) faced off on courts whose measurements could vary. Most
ball courts had two sloping parallel walls inset with three round disks
called markers or a single stone ring, at right angles to the ground.
Ballplayers wore protective equipment during the game to prevent bodily
damage by the hard rubber ball. The balls are made of solid rubber and
weighed up to 4 kg (9 lbs) or more, and sizes differed greatly over
time or according to the version played. Players would attempt to
bounce the ball without using their hands and
only touch the ball with their elbows, knees or hips through stone
hoops attached to the sides of the ball court.
As far a we know, the winners of the game were treated as heroes and
given a great feast. The penalty for losing a game was unusually harsh:
death. The leader of the team who lost the game was killed. This fit in
with the Mayan belief that human sacrifice was necessary for the
continued success of the peoples' agriculture, trade, and overall
health.
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High Temple
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The
High Temple "El Castillo" (N10-43) is the largest
Pre-Classic structure in
Belize with
a height of 33 meter (108' ) from the plaza floor. It was first built
in 100 AD
establishing its full height and its final modification was to the
front in AD 600-700. On the south front side, the stairway has been
partially consolidated. |
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To climbing the
High Temple, all you need is to be free from giddiness and good pair of
shoes. Don’t forget your camera, when you climb the High Temple. At the
top of the stairway a trail continues to the top for a spectacular
view, above the jungle canopy, that extends into Guatemala and Mexico.
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Mask Temple
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The
Mask Temple (N9-56),
adorned by a 13-foot stone mask of an ancient Maya king. Build in
Early Classic and Late Classic Periods with final phase of construction
AD 550-650. This west-facing structure is decorated
with two masks that date to the late 5th or early 6th century.
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The mask
to the right (south) of the stairway on the lower level is 15' tall
with a human head and crocodile headdress. The upper level mask's face
was broken during construction. They masks are made of stone with an
unusual
thin grey stucco coating.
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Lamanai Tour
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We can recommend
taking the Lamanai Ruins Jungle River Tour only with a licensed tour
guide. Compare the price and service before you book. If you need a map
of the Lamanay Site, at our Maya
Site Maps page, there is a printable version available for download.
On the mainland you can take a Bus
to Orange
Walk Town and start your
tour from there with a local tour guide. From San
Pedro the day trip
starts with a 1 hour boat trip to the mainland, a short cruise on the
Northern River to Bomba. A private bus will then take you to Tower Hill
or Shipyard where you begin the journey down the New River to Lamanai.
Bring along: Good
shoes, sunglasses, sun shade, sun bloc, bug spray, camera and if you
like birds binoculars are a must.
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| Guide to Belize, March 2024
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