Mayan Site of altun ha - welcome to the my world

          An hours drive from Belize City on the Old Northern Highway, takes you 31 miles north of Belize City to Altun Ha, which is one of Belize’s most well known Mayan sites. This archeological site once served as a coastal trading center that features 2 main plazas with 13 structures surrounding them.

          Excavations began in 1957, and were done by Dr. David Pendergast from the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. Archeologists found over 300 jade jewelry pieces at the site, much of which was found in the temple of the “Green Tomb”. Also found was a solid jade head weighing almost 10 pounds and stands 6 inches in height. This treasure, is the largest jade carving found at any Mayan site and was discovered in the temple of the “Sun God”, which is the tallest building, standing over 54 feet from the plaza floor.

          Archeologists have determined that the city was destroyed and rebuilt several times, but are unable to determine why.