Belize Launches Investigation into Destruction of Mayan Site

The Belize government has launched a “vigorous” investigation into last week’s destruction of the Noh Mul Mayan archaeological site in northern Belize’s Orange Walk district. The extensive damage to the site was confirmed by a Belize Tourism Board representative in New York.

Described in local press accounts as a Mayan pyramid made of limestone bricks shaped with stone tools during the B.C. era, Noh Mul, which translates as “big hill,” was “largely destroyed” by heavy equipment belonging to a local construction company seeking gravel for road fill.

John Morris, an archaeologist with the Institute of Archaeology called the damage "One of the worst that I have seen in my entire 25 years of archaeology in Belize, according to a Channel 7 News article. "We can't salvage what has happened out here -- it's an incredible display of ignorance. I am appalled and don't know what to say at this particular moment." Jaime Awe, director of the Institute of Archaeology, said the Noh Mul pyramid and temple platform, date back about 2,500 years.

While the Noh Mul complex sits on private land, Belize law states any pre-Hispanic ruins are under government protection, according to the Channel 7 News account.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/belize-launches-investigation-into-destruction-of-mayan-site.html