Precarious Descent Photo

Photographer’s Note

Lamanai is one of Belize's largest Mayan ceremonial centers. The name "lamanai" means "submerged crocodile" in the Mayan language. The site is situated on a lagoon created by the New River. It was first visited by archaeologists in 1917, but serious excavation and preservation did not occur until the Royal Ontario Museum began a long term project in 1974. Sadly, Lamanai, along with many other Mayan sites in Belize, experienced heavy looting between 1920 and the early 1970's.

The Main Temple in the complex is the largest Preclassic structure known in all of the Mayan world. It has been heavily modified through the years and the last modification has been dated to the Late Classic Period of around 600 A.D. The adjacent photo shows tourists climbing down from the top of the Main Temple. I did not want to venture up there due to the steepness of the climb. To get a perspective of the size and steepness of the temple, I have included two additional Workshop photos.

In addition to the many Mayan structures in the park, Lamanai is also known for the remains of two 16th century Christian churches and a 19th century sugar mill. Due to the long occupation of the site by varied peoples, the artifacts of Lamanai include those of stone, clay, wood, bone, shell, jade, gold, copper, glass, iron and even liquid mercury.

supereira, king78, iehuiah, Flavia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

supereira (9576) 2005-02-06 9:49

Great shot.I like the composition and prespective.Good light,textures,colors and sharpness.I like the detail of the persons.Good note.Well done!

scalerman (25723) 2005-02-07 2:55

interesting textures, details, and impressive scale. A very nice souvenir Linda...

antti (0) 2005-02-09 9:40

Very good point of view, Linda. I like this texture and people there show, how sloped it is. Special shot, indeed. Great notes. Well composed and balanced. Thanks.

RGatward (19737) 2005-02-12 14:26

Hi Linda, I missed your return. Interesting well composed shot of this structure. I wonder why it is that, it seems, all over the world, ancient builders had the same problem with ergonomics when it came to making steps. It can't be that they all had very small feet and very long legs. I think there's a thesis there somewhere.

Davids (1034) 2005-02-22 2:35

Good photo; clear subjest and interesting view of these people each strugling to get down. I myself climed the piramid of Chitzen Itza, and went down step by step, and it was a long process.

However what impressed me very much was your note, it was a pleasure to read, very impressive writing, thanks!

alexandros1035 (57) 2005-05-08 18:41

i would have picked the guy on the lowest step as my subject. i would have gotten about 10 steps lower than him and pointed my camara straight to the top of the pyramid. My goal would be to put the entire man in the bottom left hand corner of the frame with the people behind him in the background and the steps in the shot with some blue sky crowning the top of the pyramid in the upper part of the frame. hummm. i wonder how that would have looked. i'll be around there in a few weeks. i just might stop by and try it.