When one reads about the great Mayan sites in the Guatamalan area, Tikal and Copan are always mentioned. It is not well known that Mayan sites just across the Border in Belize rivalled these in area, population and power. Caracol in particular is more extensive than Tikal and once defeated Tikal and occupied it for many years. Those familiar with the crowds at Tikal will find that these Belizian sites are virtually empty, particularly in the late Fall. Notice the lack of groups of persons in the photos. Besides Caracol, other sites are very impressive, such as Xunantunich. Even smaller sites such as Cahal Pech are enchanting. Most of the northern part of Belize is covered by a series of marine limestones that range in age from Cretaceous to late Cenozoic. In fact the famous K-T boundary with associated shocked quartz and unusual isotopic composition is found in a quarry in northern Belize. This is an interesting place as it very close to area of the meteor impact in the northern Yucatan. These limestones are responsible for the large areas of internal drainage, resulting in well-developed cave systems as well as collapse features on the surface ("sinkholes" or "cenotes"). In addition, the limestone provided an accesible and relatively easily worked material for the Mayan cities. In central Belize one finds large upland areas of granitic rocks that were intruded during the Cretaceous Period. Associated with them are margins of metamorphic rocks such as slate and quartzite. Since the granite underlies the limestone in many areas, it is interesting for a geologist to go into large cave systems (with the roof over 100 ft. overhead) and find that the river is flowing on granite.
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Mayan Ruins at Caracol |
Caracol |
Caracol |
Caracol |
Caracol |
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Xunantunich |
Xunantunich |
Xunantunich |
Barton Creek Cave (via canoe) |
Chi Chem Ha - Mayan Cave Site |
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Cahal Pech |
Cahal Pech |
San Ignacio Market |
Jaguar |
Panther |