 Go To Ruins Map |
The Belize Virtual Guide CARACOL(Stop 12 of 18) |
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Go To Ruins Map |
The Belize Virtual Guide CARACOL(Stop 12 of 18) |
| Found in the 1930's and "rediscovered" in the 1950's, Caracol was known to be an important ceremonial center of the Mayan Civilization. But due to its difficult accessibility, Caracol remained shrouded in jungle and mystery till 1985, when a long term excavation of the site began. Only recently has Caracol begun to receive the recognition it is due. | |||
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Caracol is one of the largest sites in all of Mayandom, and the largest in Belize. This site is special for many reasons. The size of its center, the large architectural construction, the vast array of monuments and the artistic beauty of these monuments testify to the importance of Caracol during the Classic Period. Caracol was not the Maya name for the site. What the original name was is still unknown, though the hieroglyph for the site is prominently displayed on many monuments. The name Caracol, meaning "snail", comes from the long winding access road which twists and turns much like the spirals on the shell of a snail. |
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| The center of the site has about 20 major plazas surrounded by temples, the largest of which is known as Caana (meaning "room with a view" in Mayan) which rises 145 feet above the forest floor. From the top of Caana, one has a commanding view of the surrounding forest and other temples. | |||
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Surrounding the center of the city are terraces which dot almost every small valley in the region. The central precinct of Caracol forms the hub of a vast array of causeways that wind outward from the center of the site as far as 1 to 3 kilometers. These causeways run through many of the farming zones and probably served as a means of communication for the widespread population of the site. Settlements along seven of the known causeways have been found to be continuous and very dense. | ||
| While there appears to be no tall pyramids along any of these causeways similar to what is found in the city center, very elaborate acropolis constructions are common well off both sides of the causeways and still covered by dense bush. | |||
Among the most highly publicized aspects of the archaeology at Caracol is the discovery of an elaborately carved ball-court marker dating to the end of the Early Classic Period. Engraved on this altar is a reference to the mightiest of all Mayan cities, Tikal. The markings on this ball court marker have been interpreted as claiming a military victory over Tikal, more then 60 miles away. Others have interpreted the glyphs to refer to the capture of an important personage from Tikal. This declaration has not been corroborated anywhere else in the Mayan Region. It also must be remembered that Mayan stelae and altars were a form of public propaganda. It is interesting to note that a present day example of political propaganda exists close by Caracol. On the western border with Guatemala, Belize has erected a public monument declaring Belize as a new and independent nation. On the Guatemala side, Guatemala displays a map which represents Belize as a department of Guatemala. |
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| It is clear from the archaeological and hieroglyphical evidence that Caracol was at its peak during the Classic Period. Evidence of Post Classic occupation is lacking, thus presenting a similar situation to that found at other Classic sites in the region. But of all the major Mayan sites, Caracol has the potential for answering many questions about the rise and decline of the Maya. | |||
 
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