Altun Ha Mayan Temple
Altun Ha – “Rockstone Pond” (44 acres)
Altun Ha is located 31 miles north of Belize City on the Old Northern Highway. A two-mile dirt road connects the main road to the site. The area around the Altun Ha is rich in wildlife including armadillos, bats, squirrels, agouti, paca, foxes, raccoons, coati, tapir and the white-tailed deer. Two hundred species of birds have been recorded and there are large crocodiles that inhabit the Maya-made water reservoir.
Altun Ha was a wealthy ceremonial center boasting two main plazas, thirteen structures (including the Temple of Sun God or the Temple of the Masonry Altars). Altun Ha is not very far from the Caribbean Sea and it formed part of a unique cultural zone along with other coastal sites. There are also no stelae at Altun Ha but the discovery of rich tombs indicates that the ruling elite enjoyed access to substantial amounts of exotic goods.
Another interesting part of this site is the presence of a large, water reservoir called “Rockstone Pond”. The bottom of this reservoir is lined with yellow clay giving the bottom firmness capable of retaining water.
Altun Ha is located 31 miles north of Belize City on the Old Northern Highway. A two-mile dirt road connects the main road to the site. The area around the Altun Ha is rich in wildlife including armadillos, bats, squirrels, agouti, paca, foxes, raccoons, coati, tapir and the white-tailed deer. Two hundred species of birds have been recorded and there are large crocodiles that inhabit the Maya-made water reservoir.
Altun Ha was a wealthy ceremonial center boasting two main plazas, thirteen structures (including the Temple of Sun God or the Temple of the Masonry Altars). Altun Ha is not very far from the Caribbean Sea and it formed part of a unique cultural zone along with other coastal sites. There are also no stelae at Altun Ha but the discovery of rich tombs indicates that the ruling elite enjoyed access to substantial amounts of exotic goods.
Another interesting part of this site is the presence of a large, water reservoir called “Rockstone Pond”. The bottom of this reservoir is lined with yellow clay giving the bottom firmness capable of retaining water.
Archaeological Info
200 BCE - The earliest evidence of settlement at Altun Ha dates back to 200 B.C., although it is likely that nomadic hunting-and-gathering tribes lived in the area long before then. The first major construction took place around A.D. 100 in the form of a temple near the principal reservoir, but by the beginning of the Classic Period (A.D. 250) the focus had shifted to the area which the visitor sees today. This was to be the central core of the site for some six centuries. The northern plaza (Plaza A) was the primary ceremonial precinct until close to the end of the Early Classic (around A.D. 550) when construction was begun on the Plaza B.
900 AD - Construction at Altun Ha continued until A.D. 900, though a decline in the quality of new buildings was evident 150 years earlier. As seen at other Classic Maya sites, the society appears to have been severely disrupted early in the tenth century A.D. Although no single factor explains the decline of Maya civilization, there is some evidence that regional conflicts may have contributed to the downfall of the Maya at Altun Ha. The center was not completely abandoned after the decline, but appears to have been occupied for about 100 years after construction activity had ceased. It was once again reoccupied 200 years later during the 13th and 14th centuries.
1957 - Altun Ha, named after the modern day village that was developed there (Rockstone Pond), was first recognized in 1957 by A.H. Anderson, the Archaeological Commissioner of that time. In February of that year he had followed up on a report made by the Public Works Department of some questionable mounds in the area where they were planning to push some roads. He found them to be archaeological mounds.
1961 - In 1961 W.R. Bullard, Director of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) excavations at Baking Pot and San Estevan at the time, also visited the site and examined portions. No further attention was given to Altun Ha until 1963 when quarrying activities of the local villagers resulted in the recovery of a large and elaborately carved jade pendant. Anderson then contacted David Pendergast who had been involved in archaeological cave research in Belize.
1964-1971 - Pendergast, was a staff member of the University of Utah, and served as their field director. What started out as a 4-year research project, turned into the first long term (full-scale) archaeological project in Belize, and lasted seven years from 1964-1971. During this time, many rich archaeological finds were made, including the now internationally famed jade head.
200 BCE - The earliest evidence of settlement at Altun Ha dates back to 200 B.C., although it is likely that nomadic hunting-and-gathering tribes lived in the area long before then. The first major construction took place around A.D. 100 in the form of a temple near the principal reservoir, but by the beginning of the Classic Period (A.D. 250) the focus had shifted to the area which the visitor sees today. This was to be the central core of the site for some six centuries. The northern plaza (Plaza A) was the primary ceremonial precinct until close to the end of the Early Classic (around A.D. 550) when construction was begun on the Plaza B.
900 AD - Construction at Altun Ha continued until A.D. 900, though a decline in the quality of new buildings was evident 150 years earlier. As seen at other Classic Maya sites, the society appears to have been severely disrupted early in the tenth century A.D. Although no single factor explains the decline of Maya civilization, there is some evidence that regional conflicts may have contributed to the downfall of the Maya at Altun Ha. The center was not completely abandoned after the decline, but appears to have been occupied for about 100 years after construction activity had ceased. It was once again reoccupied 200 years later during the 13th and 14th centuries.
1957 - Altun Ha, named after the modern day village that was developed there (Rockstone Pond), was first recognized in 1957 by A.H. Anderson, the Archaeological Commissioner of that time. In February of that year he had followed up on a report made by the Public Works Department of some questionable mounds in the area where they were planning to push some roads. He found them to be archaeological mounds.
1961 - In 1961 W.R. Bullard, Director of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) excavations at Baking Pot and San Estevan at the time, also visited the site and examined portions. No further attention was given to Altun Ha until 1963 when quarrying activities of the local villagers resulted in the recovery of a large and elaborately carved jade pendant. Anderson then contacted David Pendergast who had been involved in archaeological cave research in Belize.
1964-1971 - Pendergast, was a staff member of the University of Utah, and served as their field director. What started out as a 4-year research project, turned into the first long term (full-scale) archaeological project in Belize, and lasted seven years from 1964-1971. During this time, many rich archaeological finds were made, including the now internationally famed jade head.
Directions
From Belize City, take the Northern Highway for about ½ hour just after passing the Sandhill Village. Take the Old Northern Highway on your left for 14 miles. On your left, take the Rockstone Pond Road towards the reserve for 2 miles. |
Opening Hours
365 days in the year from 8 am – 5:00 pm Fees & Reservations
Belizeans: BZD $5.00 Non-Belizeans: BZD$10.00 Belizeans enter FREE on Sundays and Public and Bank Holidays, take some form of ID. School and Government Groups need to contact the IA office for official Pass to visit this site. |
Altun Ha /ɑːlˈtuːn hɑː/ is the name given to the ruins of an ancient Mayan city in Belize, located in the Belize District about 31 miles north of Belize City and about 6.2 miles west of the shore of the Caribbean Sea. The site covers an area of about 3.1 square miles. Stones from the ruins of the ancient structures were reused for residential construction of the agricultural village of Rockstone Pond in modern times, but the ancient site did not come to the attention of archaeologists until 1963. The Old Northern Highway connects Altun Ha to Belize's Northern Highway, and the site is accessible for tourism.
The largest of Altun Ha's temple-pyramids, the "Temple of the Masonry Altars", is 52 feet high and is depicted on the logo of Belize's leading brand of beer, "Belikin". According to the Belize Institute of Archaeology, the site's name means "Rockstone Water," and is a Yucatec Mayan approximation of the name of the nearby village of Rockstone Pond. In Yucatec Mayan, haltun is a stone water deposit or cistern, and ha means water.
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Altun Ha lies on the north-central coastal plain of Belize. During the Pre-Columbian occupation period, the site was very swampy, with very few recognizable water sources. The only recognizable natural water source is a creek beyond the northern boundary of the mapped area. During the occupation, the water sources used were Gordon Pond (main reservoir), and the Camp Aguada (located in the site center).
The site itself consists is composed of groups A & B. The site does not contain any stela, suggesting that stelae were not part of ceremonial procedures. There are two recorded causeways, one in Zone C and one connecting Zone E & F. The causeway in Zone C does not connect to any structures, but is probably related to Structure C13, and was perhaps used for ceremonial purposes. The causeways connecting Zone E & F (where water sources) and was constructed for topographical reasons, specifically to traverse swampy areas.
Occupational History
Altun Ha was occupied for many centuries, from about 900 B.C. to A.D. 1000. Most of the information on Altun Ha comes from the Classic Period from about A.D. 400 to A.D. 900, when the city was at its largest.
The site itself consists is composed of groups A & B. The site does not contain any stela, suggesting that stelae were not part of ceremonial procedures. There are two recorded causeways, one in Zone C and one connecting Zone E & F. The causeway in Zone C does not connect to any structures, but is probably related to Structure C13, and was perhaps used for ceremonial purposes. The causeways connecting Zone E & F (where water sources) and was constructed for topographical reasons, specifically to traverse swampy areas.
Occupational History
Altun Ha was occupied for many centuries, from about 900 B.C. to A.D. 1000. Most of the information on Altun Ha comes from the Classic Period from about A.D. 400 to A.D. 900, when the city was at its largest.
The Sun God's Tomb
The Sun God's Tomb is in Structure B-4 (Group B), also called the Temple of the Masonry Altars. The tomb dates back to about 600−650, which is at the beginning of the Late Classic period.
Tomb B-4/7 contained the skeleton of an adult male with many offerings. The body was found fully extended with the skull facing south-southwest. The person had a height of 170–171 cm, with the recovered skeletal materials consisting of: skull fragments, the mandible, long bones, five teeth, two vertebrae, and five carpal bones.
Tomb Perishable Artifacts - The perishable artifacts (buried in the tomb) were: felid skins, cloth, matting, cordage, rods, stuccoed objects, red pigment, and gray clay. The entire tomb was covered in cloth, with textile impressions noted on the pottery. Red pigment was distributed throughout, with evidence of it on most of the jade.
Tomb Non-Perishable Artifacts - 43 non-perishable artifacts (buried in the tomb) were: ceramic bowls; shell beads; jadeite anklets, bracelets and beads; pearls; pyrite and hematite artifacts; and, the most outstanding of all, and a carved jade head of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau. The head has a height of 14.9 cm, a circumference of 45.9 cm and a weight of 4.42 kg. It was placed at the pelvis of the body, with the face of the jade boulder facing the skull.
Researchers suggests that the jade head may have been carved at the site with imported jade. It also may suggest, the Altun Ha had a strong status as a trade or ceremonial center. The tomb contained a priest that was associated with the Sun God and that Structure B-4 was dedicated to this deity, based on this one artifact.
With so many artifacts associated with this tomb, it is clear that the male buried in here was of great importance.
The Sun God's Tomb is in Structure B-4 (Group B), also called the Temple of the Masonry Altars. The tomb dates back to about 600−650, which is at the beginning of the Late Classic period.
Tomb B-4/7 contained the skeleton of an adult male with many offerings. The body was found fully extended with the skull facing south-southwest. The person had a height of 170–171 cm, with the recovered skeletal materials consisting of: skull fragments, the mandible, long bones, five teeth, two vertebrae, and five carpal bones.
Tomb Perishable Artifacts - The perishable artifacts (buried in the tomb) were: felid skins, cloth, matting, cordage, rods, stuccoed objects, red pigment, and gray clay. The entire tomb was covered in cloth, with textile impressions noted on the pottery. Red pigment was distributed throughout, with evidence of it on most of the jade.
Tomb Non-Perishable Artifacts - 43 non-perishable artifacts (buried in the tomb) were: ceramic bowls; shell beads; jadeite anklets, bracelets and beads; pearls; pyrite and hematite artifacts; and, the most outstanding of all, and a carved jade head of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau. The head has a height of 14.9 cm, a circumference of 45.9 cm and a weight of 4.42 kg. It was placed at the pelvis of the body, with the face of the jade boulder facing the skull.
Researchers suggests that the jade head may have been carved at the site with imported jade. It also may suggest, the Altun Ha had a strong status as a trade or ceremonial center. The tomb contained a priest that was associated with the Sun God and that Structure B-4 was dedicated to this deity, based on this one artifact.
With so many artifacts associated with this tomb, it is clear that the male buried in here was of great importance.
Preclassic
The earliest structures found at Altun Ha (Zone C), are two round platforms, dating to about BC 900−800 AD (Structures C13 & C17).
The Late Preclassic had a population increase and large public structures were built. The first of these was structure F8 in AD 200. Although this structure was constructed at the end of the Preclassic period, the majority of the archaeological evidence dates to the Early Classic. |
Early Classic
One of the most important finds in the Early Classic comes from structure F8, specifically tomb F8/1. It contained the remains of an adult male, with a jade and shell necklace, a pair of jade earflares, two shell disks, a pair of pearls, five pottery vessels, and fifty-nine Spondylus shells. Above the burial, the roof showed association to the large Mexican site Teotihuacan. The burial was capped with over 8,000 pieces of chert debitage and 163 formal chert tools. The ritual offering, or cache, also contained jade beads, Spondylus valves, puma and dog teeth, slate laminae, and a large variety of shell artifacts. The clear association to Teotihuacan, comes from the 248 Pachuca green obsidian objects and the 23 ceramic jars, bowls and dishes. This offering may be of importance to Teotihuacan because of the associations that the ruler in the burial had with central Mexico or the association that the entire Altun Ha community had with Teotihuacan. There is also evidence of contact & trading with the other side of Mesoamerica in the intermediate area. Traditionally, it was not believed that the Maya had gold during the Classic period; gold was restricted to the Postclassic. This is in part because many believed that gold was not naturally occurring in the Maya area, but recent investigations have shown that placer gold can be found in the streams of the upland zone of western Belize. Late Classic In general, the elite burials at Altun Ha during the Late Classic can be characterized by large amounts of jade. Over 800 pieces of jade have been recovered at the site (more than 60 of these pieces are carved). At the beginning of the Late Classic period, has one of the most interesting burials. Structure B-4 has a tomb with many jade artifacts, a large jade plaque with a series of twenty glyphs. This elaborate tomb is nicknamed “The Sun God’s Tomb”. Terminal Classic By 700 AD, modifications were made to Plaza B (structures B4 and B6). By 850 AD, structures B5 & A8 were completely abandoned. Gradual abandonment of the site began in 800 AD. Structure D2 is located at the edge of the site's Central Precinct and is dated to the Late-Terminal Classic. Postclassic In the Post-classic (structures A1 & A5), were solely used for depositing the dead. By the beginning of the eleventh century, the site of Altun Ha was completely abandoned. During the Late Post-classic period after 1,225 AD, there was a renewed occupation at Altun Ha which lasted till about the fifteenth century. |
The diet at Altun Ha was a maize (corn) based diet, but there was also a large marine component to their diet. Between the Preclassic and Early Classic, there was a dramatic increase of maize consumption, which researchers argue is an indication of a rise in intensive maize agriculture at the beginning of the Early Classic. The individuals with the highest recognized status during this time period also had the highest intake of maize.
ALTUN HA MAYA RUINS - GUIDED TOUR
For those of you who would like to read about your tour prior to taking it, we have provided the following information for you to review. This is an excellent way to help children explore the wonderful world of Belize. Take time to sit down with your children and read to them, what they are about to see. Feel free to download and print these notes provided in the PDF file below. We recommend taking these notes with you on your tour, as they will assist you in reinforcing important points in the minds of your children. If you forgot to print your notes prior to leaving from your home country, simply ask guest services for a copy and they will be happy to provide you with one.
Altun Ha History
THE HISTORY
Altun Ha is a small, but surprisingly rich, major ceremonial centre occupied during the Classic period. As with most Maya sites, the true name of the city is unknown. The name "Altun Ha", literally "rockstone water" is a rough translation of the name of a nearby village, Rockstone Pond, into Yucatec Maya.
Despite its small size and seemingly marginal location, Altun Ha was an ancient Maya community of great complexity and wealth. It was an important link in the coastal trade routes, and had contact with the distant city of Teotihuacan at an early time in Maya history.
The junction for the access road to Altun Ha is located about 28 miles north of Belize City along the poorly maintained Old Northern Highway; follow the side road for two miles to the west to reach the ruins. The name of the site is simply a translation into Mayan of Rockstone Pond, a nearby settlement.
Mounds covered by trees and vines, the remains of what was once a great city, spread out over more than 25 square miles at Altun Ha. Excavations have been concentrated in the central part of the city, where more than 275 structures have been found in an area about one thousand yards square.
EARLY ALTUN HA
Altun Ha was probably settled long before the Classic Mayan era, perhaps as many as 2,000 years ago. For a Mayan City, the site was unusual. The soil is thin and poor, which has lead some to speculate that Altun Ha was a traiding center rather than a self-contained agricultural community.
Good evidence for this thesis comes in the form of a number of unusual green obsidian blades and figures turned up in a tomb at the site by Dr. David Pendergast, of the Royal Ontario Museum of Toronto. The objects date from about 200 A.D., and are virtually indentical in style to others found at Teotihaucan, far to the north in central Mexico. This style didn't penetrate to more grandiose Mayan centers, such as TIkal in northern Guatemala, until much later, which suggests that trade and cultural influcense in Middle America might have moved initially along the coast, and only later to the interior. Altun Ha is less than ten miles from the sea, and just outside the swamp zone that must have seemed unlivable even for the resourceful Maya.
Agriculture might also have been important to the inhabitants of Altun Ha, not only for staples - corn, beans and squahs - but also to produce export crops, such as cacao. Other possible food sources were wild plants, game, and unique to the Maya of Belize, seafood.
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The ancient Maya ruins of Altun Ha are 31 miles north of Belize City on the old Northern Highway that passes through Maskall. (The new Northern Highway continues in a more westerly direction toward Crooked Tree Lagoon, reconnecting with the old highway at Carmelita.) The site of Altun Ha, located 6 miles from the sea, was an important Maya trading and ceremonial center. Here the sun was a focus of study; Maya prists wre buried within one of the tallest structures, known as the Temple of the Sun God. Altun Ha means "stone water" in Maya, and this name refers to nearby Rockstone Pond, an ancient water catchment ingeiously dammned and lined with clay for irrigation purposes. Near this pond stands a temple in which archaeologists found artifacts the Maya obtained from the faraway city of Teotihuacan, on the outskirts of present day Mexico City.
During its seventh-century apogee, Altun Ha became a focal point for offerings of such valuables as jade jewelry and carved pendants, as well as copal resin. At the top of the Temple of the Masonry Altars, such precious items were smashed into small pieces and cast into an intense fire. The precise origin and purpose of such sacrifical offering remains unclear.
Thirteen structures surround two main plazas at the site. The two tallest temples, Temple of the Sun God (the structure depicted on Belikin beer bottles) and Temple of the Masonry ALtars, rise 60 feet above the grassy plaza floor. Altun Ha covers an area of about 5 square miles and includes an extensive swamp north of the plazas. It's believed that up to 10,000 people lived here during the Classic period of Maya civilizatin, as late as A.D. 1000.
Visitors interest in birds are likely to be rewarded here. Brilliant green Aztec parakeets often streak by in tight formation, level with the tops of the temples. Ringed kingfishers rest on the summit of the Maya structures before returning to the nearby Rockstone Pond to fish. There are also trails into the forest for birders driven by the constant chorus of calls that echo around the two main plazas.
Altun Hau was first excavated by A. H. Anderson in 1957 and by W. R. Bullard in 1961, who undertook some of the most extensive fieldwork conducted at any Belizean ruin. This rich ceremonial center remained archaeologically quiet until 1963, when quarry workers unearthed an elaborately carved jade pendant. This discovery triggered an intenstive archeaeological excavation from 1964 to 1971, spearheaded by David Pendergast with support from Canada's Royal Ontario Museum.
Perhpas Altun Ha's most famous historical footnote is Pendergast's discovery of a huge jade headed replica of Kinich Ahau, the Sun God, in 600 and was owned by an elderly priest. At the time of its discovery, this priceless relic was the largest of its type ever recorded in the Maya world - almost 6 inches tall and weighing nearly 10 pounds. On rare occasions this Kinich Ahau repllica is taken on exhibition tours with other artifacts; eventually it will be displayed in Belize's long-planned National Musuem. Jade found at Althun Ha probably came from Guatemala's Sierra de las Minas, since this stone does not occur naturally in Belize.
Altun Ha is a small, but surprisingly rich, major ceremonial centre occupied during the Classic period. As with most Maya sites, the true name of the city is unknown. The name "Altun Ha", literally "rockstone water" is a rough translation of the name of a nearby village, Rockstone Pond, into Yucatec Maya.
Despite its small size and seemingly marginal location, Altun Ha was an ancient Maya community of great complexity and wealth. It was an important link in the coastal trade routes, and had contact with the distant city of Teotihuacan at an early time in Maya history.
The junction for the access road to Altun Ha is located about 28 miles north of Belize City along the poorly maintained Old Northern Highway; follow the side road for two miles to the west to reach the ruins. The name of the site is simply a translation into Mayan of Rockstone Pond, a nearby settlement.
Mounds covered by trees and vines, the remains of what was once a great city, spread out over more than 25 square miles at Altun Ha. Excavations have been concentrated in the central part of the city, where more than 275 structures have been found in an area about one thousand yards square.
EARLY ALTUN HA
Altun Ha was probably settled long before the Classic Mayan era, perhaps as many as 2,000 years ago. For a Mayan City, the site was unusual. The soil is thin and poor, which has lead some to speculate that Altun Ha was a traiding center rather than a self-contained agricultural community.
Good evidence for this thesis comes in the form of a number of unusual green obsidian blades and figures turned up in a tomb at the site by Dr. David Pendergast, of the Royal Ontario Museum of Toronto. The objects date from about 200 A.D., and are virtually indentical in style to others found at Teotihaucan, far to the north in central Mexico. This style didn't penetrate to more grandiose Mayan centers, such as TIkal in northern Guatemala, until much later, which suggests that trade and cultural influcense in Middle America might have moved initially along the coast, and only later to the interior. Altun Ha is less than ten miles from the sea, and just outside the swamp zone that must have seemed unlivable even for the resourceful Maya.
Agriculture might also have been important to the inhabitants of Altun Ha, not only for staples - corn, beans and squahs - but also to produce export crops, such as cacao. Other possible food sources were wild plants, game, and unique to the Maya of Belize, seafood.
-------------------
The ancient Maya ruins of Altun Ha are 31 miles north of Belize City on the old Northern Highway that passes through Maskall. (The new Northern Highway continues in a more westerly direction toward Crooked Tree Lagoon, reconnecting with the old highway at Carmelita.) The site of Altun Ha, located 6 miles from the sea, was an important Maya trading and ceremonial center. Here the sun was a focus of study; Maya prists wre buried within one of the tallest structures, known as the Temple of the Sun God. Altun Ha means "stone water" in Maya, and this name refers to nearby Rockstone Pond, an ancient water catchment ingeiously dammned and lined with clay for irrigation purposes. Near this pond stands a temple in which archaeologists found artifacts the Maya obtained from the faraway city of Teotihuacan, on the outskirts of present day Mexico City.
During its seventh-century apogee, Altun Ha became a focal point for offerings of such valuables as jade jewelry and carved pendants, as well as copal resin. At the top of the Temple of the Masonry Altars, such precious items were smashed into small pieces and cast into an intense fire. The precise origin and purpose of such sacrifical offering remains unclear.
Thirteen structures surround two main plazas at the site. The two tallest temples, Temple of the Sun God (the structure depicted on Belikin beer bottles) and Temple of the Masonry ALtars, rise 60 feet above the grassy plaza floor. Altun Ha covers an area of about 5 square miles and includes an extensive swamp north of the plazas. It's believed that up to 10,000 people lived here during the Classic period of Maya civilizatin, as late as A.D. 1000.
Visitors interest in birds are likely to be rewarded here. Brilliant green Aztec parakeets often streak by in tight formation, level with the tops of the temples. Ringed kingfishers rest on the summit of the Maya structures before returning to the nearby Rockstone Pond to fish. There are also trails into the forest for birders driven by the constant chorus of calls that echo around the two main plazas.
Altun Hau was first excavated by A. H. Anderson in 1957 and by W. R. Bullard in 1961, who undertook some of the most extensive fieldwork conducted at any Belizean ruin. This rich ceremonial center remained archaeologically quiet until 1963, when quarry workers unearthed an elaborately carved jade pendant. This discovery triggered an intenstive archeaeological excavation from 1964 to 1971, spearheaded by David Pendergast with support from Canada's Royal Ontario Museum.
Perhpas Altun Ha's most famous historical footnote is Pendergast's discovery of a huge jade headed replica of Kinich Ahau, the Sun God, in 600 and was owned by an elderly priest. At the time of its discovery, this priceless relic was the largest of its type ever recorded in the Maya world - almost 6 inches tall and weighing nearly 10 pounds. On rare occasions this Kinich Ahau repllica is taken on exhibition tours with other artifacts; eventually it will be displayed in Belize's long-planned National Musuem. Jade found at Althun Ha probably came from Guatemala's Sierra de las Minas, since this stone does not occur naturally in Belize.
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