Lamanai
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| This article is part of the Maya ruins of Belize series | |
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| Altun Ha | |
| Cahal Pech | |
| Caracol | |
| Cerros | |
| El Pilar | |
| Lamanai | |
| Louisville | |
| Lubaantun | |
| Nim Li Punit | |
| Santa Rita | |
| Xunantunich | |
Lamanai (from Lama'an Ai, "submerged crocodile" in Yukatek Maya) is a Mesoamerican archaeological site, and was once a considerably sized city of the Maya civilization, located in the north of Belize, in Orange Walk District. The site's name is Pre-Columbian, recorded by early Spanish missionaries, and documented over a millennium earlier in Maya inscriptions as Lam'an'ain.
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[edit] History
Lamanai was occupied as early as the 16th century BC. The site reached its greatest importance in the Pre-Classic Period, from the 4th century BC through the 1st century AD, but also has later structures and continued to be occupied up to the 17th century AD. During the Spanish conquest of Yucatán the Conquistadores established a Roman Catholic church here, but a native Maya revolt drove the Spanish away from this area.
[edit] Site description
The vast majority of the site remained unexcavated until the mid-1970s. Archaeological work has concentrated on the investigation and restoration of the larger structures, most notably the Mask Temple, Structure N10-9 ("Temple of the Jaguar Masks") and High Temple. The summit of this latter structure affords a view across the surrounding jungle to a nearby lagoon, part of New River.
A significant portion of the Temple of the Jaguar Masks remains under grassy earth or is covered in dense jungle growth. Unexcavated, it would be significantly taller than the High Temple.
[edit] Archaeological investigations
The first detailed description of the ruins was made in 1917 by Thomas Gann. Archeological excavations at the site began in 1974 under David M. Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum, which continued through 1988. Further excavations and restoration work is being conducted as of 2004. The ruins are being excavated by a team from the nearby villages of Indian Church and San Carlos.
[edit] Modern site and tourism
Lamanai is accessible to tourists by organised day boat trips from Orange Walk Town along New River.
[edit] Gallery
 Mask Temple - Lamanai |
 Detail of carving on right-hand (facing temple) wall of Mask Temple. A similarly-sized panel on the left-hand side is covered up for its protection. |
 5' 8" tall person in front of Mask Temple wall, for perspective. |
 High Temple, Lamanai |
 Detail from front wall (right side facing front) of the High Temple. Heavily eroded. |
 View from the top of the High Temple, to illustrate height. |
 Temple of the Jaguar Masks |
 Temple of the Jaguar Masks - detail of what is believed to be a jaguar head, left-hand side of temple (when facing its front). |
[edit] External links
