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Video: LAMANAI Mayan Ruins

Come join me on a tour of a very impressive Mayan city called Lamanai, in Belize, Central America. Lamanai means "submerged crocodile" and it is one of the largest Mayan cities in Meso-America.

It was inhabited for over 3,000 years, beginning about 1,500 BCE. Situated on the edge of a natural fresh-water lagoon and the navigable New River, it was an ideal place for the Mayans to live and work.

Lamanai can be reached by rough roads, but the ideal way to see it is from Orange Walk Town in Northern Belize. A speedboat takes us 32 miles downriver to the site with an impressive array of wildlife visible along the river banks as we go.

Like most Mayan city sites, Lamanai is only partially excavated. There are three main temples and other living quarters and ceremonial structures. The temple pyramids are: Jaguar Temple (named for the rough jaguar mask on the front bottom of the structure); the High Temple, which towers over 100 feet and affords a view of the jungle and river; and the amazing Mask Temple, with its two large carved masks. The faces on the masks show a strong Olmec influence along with formal Mayan royalty.

New docking facilities at Lamanai

In an effort to create a better visitor experience, the Institute of Archaeology continues to invest in the enhancement of infrastructure at our archaeological reserves, such as the docking facilities at Lamanai.

Hon Patrick Faber, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture was on site June 1, 2017 for the official opening of the new docking facitity at the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve. This new facility will make for a safer and much more enjoyable visit by those who access the site via the New River Lagoon.












Institute of Archaeology

Patrick Faber: My little friends from Indian Church Government School help me inaugurate the new docking facility at Lamanai Archeological Site

Video: With new docking facilities at the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, people will be able to visit the site via the New River Lagoon with greater ease and comfort.

Lamanai; Mayan Temple in Belize 2017

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Lamanai Maya site in Orange Walk, Belize

The UnBelizeable Perez's

We took a tour with our good friends on the New River lagoon and saw the impressive setting the rainforest. We drove to the Indian Church Village, encounter the Lamanai Mayan site "Submerged Crocodile" Mayan Ruins in Orange Walk.

Lamanai Archeological Reserve and Cultural Landscape Named To 2022 World Monuments Watch

World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced that the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve and its wider Cultural Landscape have been named to the 2022 World Monuments Watch, a selection of 25 heritage sites of worldwide significance whose preservation is urgent and vital to the communities surrounding them. These sites powerfully demonstrate pressing global challenges of climate change, imbalanced tourism, underrepresentation, and recovery from the crisis, underscoring the need for greater action to support heritage places and the people who care for them. Lamanai is an archaeological site whose physical attributes represent diverse and contested histories of the Maya, Spanish, Chinese and British descendants in Belize, functioning as an 'outdoor classroom' where local and international tourists can interact with the monuments and buildings of Belize's historical past.

The site is as socially significant today as it was 3,000 years ago, due in part to its longevity, its association with historical events and their memory in the present, its symbolism for descendants, indigenous and migrant groups, and its contribution to nation-building. A sustainable future for Lamanai is contingent upon progressive collaboration and balancing management, tourism, natural and cultural resource protection, cultural memory, and community quality of life. Launched in 1996 with founding sponsor American Express, the Watch is announced every two years and includes heritage places nominated by individuals and community-based organizations across the globe. The program has been a proven tool for raising awareness of sites in need of protection and galvanizing action and support for their preservation.

"Saving irreplaceable cultural heritage has never been more important," said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of WMF. "The daunting global challenges facing heritage in the twenty-first century require innovative, sustainable, and replicable solutions. By supporting communities in preserving the places they treasure most, we can strengthen social bonds and foster a greater understanding that our futures as global citizens are inextricably linked."

To date, WMF has contributed more than $110 million toward projects at more than 300 Watch sites, with the visibility provided by the Watch helping communities leverage an additional $300 million from other sources. Heritage Education Network Belize believes that "Culture and heritage are holistic concepts, holding salience in every aspect of life. We are dedicated to the power of these concepts by strengthening ties and communication between the many stakeholders of Belize's culture and heritage to ensure accurate representation and sustainable social, environmental, and economic development."

Exploring the Mayan Ruins at Lamanai, Belize | Explorando las Ruinas Mayas en Lanamai, Belice

Walking around the Mayan Ruins at Lamanai, Belize. You can hear noises from jaguars and monkeys.

Caminando las Ruinas Mayan en Lanamai, Belice Se puede escuchar ruidos que hacen monos y jaguares.

Dr. Jim Aimers was recently in Belize analyzing some of the pottery sherds from the Lamanai Ottawa Group. It's interesting to see where some of Lamanai's pottery was found. Here are the Late to Terminal Classic architectural stages of Structure N10-15 in the Ottawa Group showing the locations of various caches in that structure along with vessel illustrations.

You'll find a PDF of this at http://lamanai.org.uk/uploads/3/4/5...36_x_72_poster_4.3.17_revised_5.8.17.pdf



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A Trip to Lamanai