When planning a trip to glimpse the preeminent relics of ancient Mesoamerica, Cahal Pech rarely finds its way onto a traveler's list. Less well-known than the expansive Mayan ruins of Tikal and Chichn Itz, the remains of Cahal Pech are no less magnificent, not to mention a treasure trove of information on the lives of its builders and inhabitants. While you might step over more tourists than old stone blocks climbing up the pyramids at Calakmul, Cahal Pech remains an isolated and often-ignored jewel in the crown of Latin America's Pre-Columbian civilizations.
Dubbed "The Place of Ticks" by the team that rediscovered it in the 1930s, Cahal Pech was abandoned sometime during the 9th century. The global impact of World War II postponed any serious attempt at unearthing the city until the 1950s, when a professor from the University of Pennsylvania led a team into the jungle to begin exhuming the site.
Millennia of History
Beginning in 1988, a project to fully uncover the city was initiated by the government of Belize. Led by Dr. Jame Awa of the NICH (National Institute of Archaeology), the unearthing and restoration took twelve years, finally finishing in 2000. As a result of this project, a great amount of data was generated regarding the daily life of the city's inhabitants, and detailed plans of the city were drawn up that has proved invaluable to successive researchers studying all the knowledge that this remarkable lost city has to offer.
Cahal Pech still lies within a heavily-forested region of jungle, a habitat for many plants and animals and an area of significant natural beauty. When Belize's first Commissioner of Archeology visited the site in the 1960s, he was struck by the need to protect the site from the encroaching presence of modern civilization; as a consequence, strict laws were enacted that curtail logging, construction, and other commercial activities around the site's perimeter.
Before it was abandoned, Cahal Pech was, according to evidence, used by the Maya almost continuously since the Maya Pre-classic period. Construction of the city began sometime around 1200 BC, making it one of the oldest and longest-lived urban centers of the Maya :in use for nearly two thousand years. Over 30 structures, some towering 25 meters or more above the jungle floor, are arranged around a central acropolis, and the purity of its artifacts and building remains make it one of the most valuable Maya cities yet uncovered.
Clues from the Past
We can also learn much from the site's location, in addition to its many buildings and ruins. Built near the intersection of the Macal and Mopan rivers, it demonstrates how important a natural water source was to the first city-builders; the Maya would shortly thereafter become pioneers in developing man-made irrigation for plantations and urban centers. You can visit the site alone for a small admission fee, though hiring a guide will ensure that you miss none of the details and historical significance that a lay observer might be prone to gloss over.
With such a pristine and accessible location :not to mention a whole host of amazing buildings and artifacts :it's a safe bet that Cahal Pech won't remain a secret forever. Be sure to plan your trip soon, as there's nothing like being able to experience this amazing ancient relic in peace and solitary tranquility.
Dubbed "The Place of Ticks" by the team that rediscovered it in the 1930s, Cahal Pech was abandoned sometime during the 9th century. The global impact of World War II postponed any serious attempt at unearthing the city until the 1950s, when a professor from the University of Pennsylvania led a team into the jungle to begin exhuming the site.
Millennia of History
Beginning in 1988, a project to fully uncover the city was initiated by the government of Belize. Led by Dr. Jame Awa of the NICH (National Institute of Archaeology), the unearthing and restoration took twelve years, finally finishing in 2000. As a result of this project, a great amount of data was generated regarding the daily life of the city's inhabitants, and detailed plans of the city were drawn up that has proved invaluable to successive researchers studying all the knowledge that this remarkable lost city has to offer.
Cahal Pech still lies within a heavily-forested region of jungle, a habitat for many plants and animals and an area of significant natural beauty. When Belize's first Commissioner of Archeology visited the site in the 1960s, he was struck by the need to protect the site from the encroaching presence of modern civilization; as a consequence, strict laws were enacted that curtail logging, construction, and other commercial activities around the site's perimeter.
Before it was abandoned, Cahal Pech was, according to evidence, used by the Maya almost continuously since the Maya Pre-classic period. Construction of the city began sometime around 1200 BC, making it one of the oldest and longest-lived urban centers of the Maya :in use for nearly two thousand years. Over 30 structures, some towering 25 meters or more above the jungle floor, are arranged around a central acropolis, and the purity of its artifacts and building remains make it one of the most valuable Maya cities yet uncovered.
Clues from the Past
We can also learn much from the site's location, in addition to its many buildings and ruins. Built near the intersection of the Macal and Mopan rivers, it demonstrates how important a natural water source was to the first city-builders; the Maya would shortly thereafter become pioneers in developing man-made irrigation for plantations and urban centers. You can visit the site alone for a small admission fee, though hiring a guide will ensure that you miss none of the details and historical significance that a lay observer might be prone to gloss over.
With such a pristine and accessible location :not to mention a whole host of amazing buildings and artifacts :it's a safe bet that Cahal Pech won't remain a secret forever. Be sure to plan your trip soon, as there's nothing like being able to experience this amazing ancient relic in peace and solitary tranquility.
About the Author:
The Onejungle Travel Community is where Travelers to Mexico and the Yucatan can find a great deal of travel and trip ideas. More information on Mayan Ruins can be found at: Mayan Ruins Articles.
