I went with my friend and writer Rick Moguel to visit Jesus Ken in Succotz, Cayo. It was an immersive experience. I remember thinking of those St. John’s College students who staged, for a history project, a cañero rebellion in the context of the moment we call in Belize, the Cañeros Movement . All the […]
Dr. Ángel Cal is one of Belize’s foremost historians and educators. He has interrogated, investigated, and published various works on the impact of the Caste War on Belize. Dr. Cal has also analysed other topics in Belizean history to inform Belizean consciousness and open more arenas for research. In this book, “English Reports on the
The Battle of Orange Walk Read More »
The in-depth questioning of colonial narratives has continually yielded the names of new heroes in the emerging decolonized space, such as the case of Maximo Perez, whose actions were down played by British narratives as those of a Maya rebel. Oral accounts are now presenting a new view into the history of San Jose Nuevo
Santa Rita, a Maya archaeological reserve near Corozal Town, Belize, likely corresponds to the ancient Maya city known as Chetumal, according to historical evidence. Excavations reveal a rich history of habitation dating back to 2000-1200 BCE, with its peak significance during the Postclassic era and continued occupation even after the Spanish arrival. Positioned strategically to
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
Lamanai, a significant Mesoamerican archaeological site in Belize’s Orange Walk District, derives its name from the Maya term meaning “submerged crocodile.” It boasts a rich history spanning over three millennia, from the Early Preclassic Maya period to the Spanish and British Colonial periods, remaining occupied well into the 17th century AD unlike many other Classic-period
Jade Head Altun Ha, the ruins of an ancient Maya city in Belize, lies approximately 50 kilometers north of Belize City and about 10 kilometers west of the Caribbean Sea. Covering an area of about 8 square kilometers, Altun Ha remained unknown to archaeologists until 1963, despite the reuse of its stones in the nearby
Lubaantun, a pre-Columbian ruined city of the Maya civilization in southern Belize, is located about 42 kilometers northwest of Punta Gorda in the Toledo District. Dating from the Maya Classic era, flourishing from the 730s to the 890s AD, Lubaantun features distinctive architecture built primarily of large stone blocks without mortar, primarily black slate rather
Nim Li Punit is a Maya Classic Period site in Belize’s Toledo District, located 50 kilometers north of Punta Gorda and near the village of Indian Creek. The name, meaning “Big Hat” in Kekchi Maya, refers to a large headdress depicted on a stela sculpture found at the site. Situated in the foothills of the
Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Cayo District of Belize, approximately 40 kilometers south of Xunantunich and San Ignacio. Situated on the Vaca Plateau at an elevation of 500 meters, it was one of the most important regional political centers of the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period. The site
