|
Xunantunich -
Belize
 Xunantunich
"Stone Woman" in Mayan overlooks the Mopan
River, approximately eight miles west of San Ignacio
Town in the Cayo District. Xunantunich is accessible
by public transportation, but after crossing the Mopan
River by way of a hand-cranked ferry, you must walk
about one mile to the entrance of the site. If you have
a vehicle, you may take it with you on the ferry, and
park it in the carpark, eliminating the walk.
 Xunantunich
was a major ceremonial centre during the Classic Period.
The site is composed of six major plazas and surrounded
by more than twenty-five temples and palaces. The most
prominent structure located at the south end of the
site is the pyramid "El Castillo" (The Castle)
which rises 130 feet high above the plaza. "El
Castillo" was the tallest man-made structure in
all of Belize until the discovery of "Canaa"
at Caracol. The most notable feature on "El Castillo"
is the reconstructed frieze on the east side of the
lower temple.
Currently, additional explorations and excavations
are being performed by Dr. Richard Leventhal and the
Institute of Archaeology in an effort to better understand
the history of Xunantunich.
|
