- Address: San Jose Succotz, Belize;
- Phone: +501 608-1788;
- Built: from III to X centuries. AD;
- Consist of: 25 buildings.
Ruins of Xunantuni - a famous monument of Indian Mayan culture, located in the west of Belize , near the river Mopan. It is one of the most easily accessible and impressive archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian era in the country.
History of the city of Xunantuni
The city was built from the 3rd to the 10th centuries. AD Its name in translation from Indian language means "stone maiden". According to legend, during the construction of one of the stone pyramids, workers saw a woman emerging in the jungle in white robes. Her eyes burned with red fire, terrifying superstitious Indians. The female figure swam past them and dissolved into the walls of the newly built pyramid.
Due to its favorable location, Xunantuni controlled the trade routes of caravans going to the Atlantic coast. Soils in the vicinity of the city were fertile, and the number of people willing to settle in it increased. The natural closeness of this place promoted prosperity even when the other Maya civilizations began to decline. Archaeological excavations have shown that the city began to empty after a powerful earthquake that damaged many of the city's buildings. Today, the jungle has actually absorbed the Xunantuni, and the roots of tropical trees are closely intertwined with stone foundations, which presents a serious obstacle to further research.
Xunantun today
The central part of the city occupies about 2.6 square kilometers. and includes a complex of 6 squares with 25 palaces and temples. Over the entire architectural complex of Maya is dominated by the two-story El Castillo Palace, built on a pyramid 40 meters high. This is the second largest building of the pre-Columbian era in Belize. The pyramid consists of a series of high stepped terraces, completed with bas-reliefs and stucco molding. The images can be viewed religious scenes - the scenes of the birth of the gods, the tree of life, tending from the underworld to heaven, as well as the family of the ruler of the Maya. From the top of the pyramid offers a stunning view of the surrounding city of the jungle and neighboring Guatemala.
How to get there?
Xunantunih is located near the village of San Ignacio . The road from the capital of Belize to the village will take about 2 hours. From San Ignacio, you need to drive 7 km along the western highway towards Guatemala, to the river Mopan. Next - a ferry crossing the river and another kilometer in the direction of a large hill. Near the ruins there is an information center, where you can get detailed information about the history of the ancient settlement.