Cerros, an Eastern Lowland Maya archaeological site in northern Belize, thrived from the Late Preclassic to the Postclassic period, reaching its peak during the Mesoamerican Late Preclassic with a population of approximately 1,089 people. Positioned strategically on a peninsula at the mouth of the New River, it served as a vital intermediary link between coastal trade routes and inland communities, boasting an extensive canal system and raised-field agriculture. The site’s core features large structures, stepped pyramids, an acropolis complex, and two ballcourts, surrounded by a crescent-shaped canal network enclosing raised-fields. Initially a small village of farmers, fishermen, and traders around 400 BC, Cerros underwent urban renewal around 50 BC, marked by the construction of temples and plazas, notably Structure 5C-2nd, aligning with Chetumal Bay, symbolizing the site’s significance. However, by AD 400, Cerros had declined, with sporadic occupation until its abandonment, drawing renewed interest in the early 20th century.