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| Cerros | ||
| District | Corozal District | |
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| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
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Cerros is a Mayan ruin in Belize in the Corozal District. Often this is also referred to as Cerro Maya or Big Mound. Because of the picturesque location one generally speaks of Tulum from Belize.
background
The oldest traces of settlement can be traced back to 500 BC. To date. Based on the finds in Cerros, it was possible for the first time to distinguish between Ixtabai, C'oh, and Tulix phases for this period. During these phases the village of Cerros was dominated by agriculture. Towards the end of this period, a fortified port facility and the first smaller buildings were built, which are now buried under the plaza. Radiocarbon studies have shown that around 50 BC BC suddenly a brisk construction activity started, which produced the main buildings & plazas in Cerros and the population probably rose to approx. 2,000. Structures 4, 5 & 6 were created during this period. Probably Cerros was a trading town between the coastal trade route and Lamanai and El Mirador. Trade contacts in the region were also possible Veracruz be detected. In any case, the proximity of the estuaries of the Rio Hondo and the New Rivers resulted in quick direct access directly to the mainland. In addition to agricultural products, ceramics, obsidian products and jade could be identified as commercial goods. As El Mirador collapsed and one of the greatest influences no longer existed, the construction work was limited to the renewal of the infrastructure. This was probably also in connection with armed conflicts, which could be proven in numerous other Mayan cities during this period. For example, a defensive moat was built around the city during this period. Finally, around 250 AD, all construction activities on the facility were stopped. This timeline is especially true with the city El Mirador in Guatemala who probably had trade contacts with Cerros. Ceramic finds from the 1990s have shown that the complex was inhabited until 1300 AD, but the town was nearby Santa Rita more and more important, so that the settlement was more likely to be limited to agriculture.
- 500 BC BC to 300 BC Chr. First traces of settlement
- 300 BC BC to 200 BC Chr. Ix at phase - Development into a trading hub
- 300 BC BC to 50 BC Chr. C'oh - Rapid expansion. The first trench systems are created
- 50 BC BC to AD 150 Tulix Complex - Establishment of the royal seat and construction of the large temple complexes.
- 150 AD to 600 AD Hubul phase - A small village society lives in the city complex
- AD 600 to AD 900 Sihnal phase - Refugees from the Yucatan complete the cityscape
- 900 AD to 1300 AD. Kanan phase - The system is slowly exited
The facility was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century by the British doctor Thomas Gann, but it was not until 1969 that Peter Schmidt and Joseph Palacio recorded the facility archaeologically. As a result, the in Dallas based company Metroplex Properties established the Cerros Maya Foundation. This should restore the complex and turn it into a tourist attraction with a museum, hotel and pool area. This went bankrupt, so that David Freidel of the Southern Methodist University from 1973 to 1979 was able to carry out excavations. Before that, Norman Hammond had measured the system here as part of the Corozal project and recovered numerous finds. Work has been ongoing here since the 1980s.
Around 200 structures and numerous water holes, ditches and agricultural areas have been discovered over an area of 4 km². In the course of the excavations, not only classic Milpa cultivation areas but also terrace cultivation areas with complex irrigation systems could be identified. In recent years some parts of the archaeological site have been sold to private investors, making excavations increasingly difficult.
getting there
Of Corozal out towards Copper Bank (in the south) by means of a hand-operated ferry across the New River. Costs US $ 5. After a short crossing you have fast Copper Bank reached. From here a road leads towards the coast. Always follow the brown sign.
There is no direct bus connection, but it is possible to get there by bus Copper Bank to travel and from there it is possible to quickly reach the facility with rented bicycles (15 to 30 minutes). But you can in Corozal Rent boats to Cerros.
Of Sarteneja it is also possible to arrive with the rented boat. With the car you drive in the direction San Estevan and turn right just before Chunix and after a short time you reach a hand-operated ferry that takes you over the small lagoon inflow. After a short crossing you have Copper Bank reached. From here a road leads towards the coast. Always follow the brown sign.
mobility
The facility can be explored on foot. A circular route has been set up here, which initially runs along the coast. In this section you can see structure 6, 5 and 4. You can climb the latter two and have beautiful views of the Caribbean. Behind the structure, the path turns right and leads into the rainforest and shows, in addition to many small structures, the trenches, structure 29 and ball courts.
Tourist Attractions
The facility is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (admission 10 BZ $).
- Visitor center. Here you can find information about the original facility.
- Trenches. The theories about the use of these trenches are many. There were probably trenches with three different uses. The Mayans made use of artificial irrigation to optimize arable farming early on. So that some trenches probably served this purpose. Another reason could have been simple roads. In other cities like Caracol regular road networks were later built. The trenches leading to structure 25 and 50 seem to have served such a purpose. Ultimately, however, many trenches also served as simple defense. Especially at the beginning of the first millennium there was a multitude of armed conflicts in the course of which some large cities were lost. Investigations on the large 1,200 meter long ditch that surrounds the city center and was built between 250 BC. BC and 50 BC Was created, have shown that this is probably the purpose of defense and loading or. Served drainage.
- Structure 3. This building was not completed.
- Structure 4. One of the last completed buildings. This was not completed until the late pre-classical period. Findings have shown that this building was in use until the very end (post-classical period) for probably religious purposes. This pyramid measures a little over 21 meters, with the floor plan extending to 52 by 60 meters. The alignment is exactly in the east-west axis, with the staircase coming from the east. If you climb this, the viewer has a fantastic panoramic view over the coastal region.
- Structure 5. The oldest building in the city. The researcher Freidel uncovered this structure in the late 1970s. The large mask-like representations at the foot of the structure are noteworthy here. These represent the sun god Kinich. From here you also have a wonderful view of the Caribbean.
- Structure 6. This acropolis with a floor plan of 60 by 60 meters was also built in the late pre-classical period. Originally it was also decorated with two masks. Of these, however, only individual ornaments and a snake's head with a forked tongue have survived. The ornaments on the snake's head indicate a divine connection. Vessels with small jade flower heads were found on this building in the 1970s. These were still arranged as they were once attached to the original diadem. The material had meanwhile fallen victim to time. A flower diadem was already the symbol of the king in Olmec times. It is therefore believed that this complex was available to the king.
- Structure 29. A large pyramid 300 meters south of the core.
- Structure 50. The ball court is also located south of the city's access area.
activities
- Discover - Many structures have not yet been exposed. Others show beautiful 2000 year old frescoes. All of this in a tropical, Caribbean atmosphere is not only a feast for the eyes for history enthusiasts.
shop
There are no shopping opportunities in Cerros. The closest possibility to get drinks and food can be found in Copper Bank.
kitchen
accommodation
Further accommodations can be found in Copper Bank, Corozal, Sarteneja. For this, however, you have to accept a short journey, depending on the situation.
trips
From here is next to the cities Copper Bank, Corozal, Sarteneja also Orange Walk Reachable quickly thanks to good bus connections (from Copper Bank).
A visit to the surrounding national parks is also recommended:
- Shipstern Nature Reserve. With bird breeding areas, crocodile breeding and a butterfly farm, this reserve attracts every nature lover.
- Bacalar Chico Marine. Whether above or under water, this national park offers a lot of interesting things.
literature
- Maya. God kings in the rainforest by Nikolai Grube published by Könemann-Verlag, Cologne 2000. ISBN 3-829-01564-X .
