ALTUN HA   (Rockstone Pond)

Located 30 miles north of Belize City and 6 miles from the Caribbean Sea, Altun Ha was an important trading and religious center. The true ancient name is unknown and “Altun Ha”, is a Mayan translation of the nearby village named Rockstone Pond.

Altun Ha is the most intensively excavated Maya site in Belize. The core site includes 13 structures clustered within two plazas. Just outside these 2 plazas, a short nature trail leads to clay-lined Rockstone Pond, which was damned and used as a reservoir in Maya times.

The site’s largest temple, ‘The Temple of the Masonry Altars’, rises 60 feet above the plaza, and is believed to have been the main focus of religious ceremonies. This temple went through 8 phases of construction, and the round altar at the top is unique to this site. It was the focus of unusual sacrificial ceremonies. Several priestly tombs have been uncovered with in this main structure, and it was within one of these tombs that archeologists discovered the largest jade piece to be found anywhere in the Maya world. This jade head stands at 15cm and represents Kinich Ahua, the Maya sun god. 





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