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Volume 2, Number 3 |
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Volume 2, Number 3 |
El Castillo, the tallest pyramid at Xunantunich,
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The name, according to one interpretation, means "Maiden of the Rock" in the Yucatec dialect. It is pronounced "zshoo-NAN-too-NEECH." It was the first site in Belize to be opened to the public, when the road and a ferry were built in 1954. |
What you will see today is a Classic period (300-900 AD)
ceremonial center, with large plazas ringed with pyramids. The tallest is
the 130 foot "El Castillo," which is large by Mayan standards
and is only exceeded by the Caana pyramid at Caracol. The site was occupied The recent history of Xunantunich began in the late 1800's, when it was explored by a British medical officer named Thomas Gann. The first known photograph of the site was taken in 1904 and displayed in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for many years. Nothing further was done until Gann returned in 1924, at which time he reportedly unearthed many Maya treasures. The recorded history of these items has been lost and, at present, no one knows of their whereabouts. It is possible that many museums and private collectors of Maya artifacts are displaying them, with no idea of their origin. | |
| Over the last 70 years, many noted archaeologists have undertaken various excavations at Xunantunich, seeking to uncover her mysteries. Continuous excavation and restoration has been taking place since 1990 by the University of California (UCLA) under the direction of Dr. Richard Leventhal. Now, a wonderful new visitor's center has been built which displays a model of the site, photos, maps and graphical explanations of significant events in the development of the city. |
Detail of the west frieze near the top of El Castillo |
It is helpful to visit the center when you first arrive, to give you an overview for the rest of your visit. We highly recommend that you make the steep, but short, climb to the top of "El Castillo." This vantage point provides a breathtaking, 360 degree, panoramic view over the jungle canopy of the Macal, Mopan and Belize River valleys, as well as a vast area of the Guatemalan Peten District, which is only a few miles away. You will also get a close look at the restored portions of two unique stucco friezes, which appear on the east and west sides of the upper portion of the pyramid. | |
| Located in the Cayo District in western Belize, Xunantunich is easily accessible. Most of the lodging facilities in the area offer day trips to the site, which is very popular with all tourists in the region. Prices for the tours range from US$25 to $50, depending on the number of passengers. It is also simple to find if you are travelling on your own. | |
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You can drive or take the bus west from San Ignacio about eight miles, to the village of San Jose Succotz. Here there is a small, hand-cranked cable ferry that will take you and your car across the Mopan River and, from there, it's less than a mile farther (up a steep road) to the site. The ferry service is free of charge, and it operates daily from 7:30 am to 4 pm, with a break for lunch. This excursion makes a nice half-day trip, and adds a lot of local color to your Belize adventure. The entrance fee is BZ$ 5 for Belizeans and $10 for visitors. |
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until around 900 A.D. and was likely abandoned after
an earthquake, the evidence of which was discovered by archaeologists in
the mid-1900's.
