🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
El Pilar
Middle Preclassic – Terminal Classic (c.800 BCE–1000 CE) Lowland Maya · Maya (Lowland)
El Pilar straddles the Belize-Guatemala international boundary on a 340m-high escarpment 12 km north of San Ignacio, Belize.
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient village
Barton Ramie
Preclassic – Classic (c.900 BCE–950 CE) Late Formative to Classic Maya · Maya (Lowland)
Barton Ramie is the classic lowland Maya household archaeology micro-settlement along the Belize River near Georgeville, Cayo, at 65 m.
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
Altun Ha
Preclassic 900 BCE–1000 CE (plazas 200–900 CE; jade tomb early 300 CE) · Maya (northern coastal Belize, Altun Ha polity, Lowland–Caribbean zone)
Coastal-plain trade port city controlling Caribbean shell, salt and jade routes near Rockstone Pond wetlands: twin Temple of the Masonry Altars (B4, 16 m high) with three altar superstructures and…
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
Chan Chich
Middle Preclassic – Terminal Classic (c.800 BCE–900 CE) Lowland Maya · Maya (Lowland)
Chan Chich is a rainforest hilltop Maya city hidden in the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area near the Guatemala border, Orange Walk, at 120 m.
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
Caracol
Preclassic 1200 BCE–900 CE (peak Late Classic 562–680, Star-War defeat of Tikal) · Maya (Classic lowland; ally of Calakmul vs Tikal; later independent kingdom Uxwitzá)
Largest Maya city in Belize and greater Tikal rival: 200 km² settlement (70 sq mi mapped), Caana (“Sky Palace”) pyramid 43 m high – tallest man-made structure in Belize – with corner palaces, 160+…
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
Xunantunich
Preclassic 1000 BCE–1000 CE (El Castillo apogee 600–890 CE; top frieze 770–830) · Maya (Mopan Valley, rival of Naranjo and Buenavista del Cayo)
Hilltop Classic Maya center with spectacular El Castillo (40 m high pyramid with east stucco frieze 7.5 m long of 30 human figures, sun gods and jaguars) visible 8 km on Mopan River valley ridge;…
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
La Milpa
Preclassic–Late Classic · Maya (Three Rivers)
Third-largest Belize Maya city (400 BCE–900 CE) — 25-m Great Pyramid with 85 plazas and 60-km sacbé network.
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
Lubaantun
Late Classic Maya · Maya
Lubaantun in Toledo District, Belize is a Late Classic Maya ancient city attributed to Maya culture. Settlement complex with stratified occupation, demonstrating urban planning and craft production.
