Photos

Altun Ha means "stone water" in Mayan and takes its name from an ancient Maya reservoir, or aguada, that Belizeans call "rock stone pond." Altun Ha was an important Mayan city situated to take advantage of the trading that occurred between the waters of the Caribbean and the deep interior of Central America.

The evolution of the temples at Altun Ha continued until near the end of the 9th century. Evidence suggests that the final collapse of Altun Ha may have been brought about by some sort of peasant revolt. The archaeological evidence also points with reasonable certainty that military invasion, famine and pestilence played no significant role in the downfall of Altun Ha.

Of all the tombs discovered at Altun Ha, the most striking was the last one discovered - and the earliest built. This tomb, built deep within the huge stair block of the main temple dated from 600 A.D. An elderly priest lay buried there accompanied by bits and pieces of cloth, cordage, wooden objects and a number of jade objects. Included among the jade was the largest jade artifact ever recovered in all of Mayandom. Kinich Ahau is a giant head of the Sun God, standing 6 inches (152mm) in diameter and weighing approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kg).
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Tech: Photo was scanned with an HP PSC 950.