I guess not everyone is so scared of Mayan calendars after all.
From the BBC
Mayan pyramid bulldozed by Belize construction crew
Officials in Belize say a construction company has destroyed one of the country’s largest Mayan pyramids.
Only the core of the pre-Columbian mound was left standingHead of the Belizean Institute of Archaeology Jaime Awe said the Noh Mul temple was levelled by a road-building company seeking gravel for road filler.
The Mayan temple dates back to pre-Columbian times and is estimated to be 2,300 year old. Only a small core of the pyramid was left standing.
Police said they were investigating the incident.
Archaeologists said this was not the first incident of its kind.
“Bulldozing Maya mounds for road fill is an endemic problem in Belize,” Prof Normand Hammond told the Associated Press news agency.
Archaeologists said they were alerted to the destruction late last week.
The Maya complex lies on private land but under Belizean law, any pre-Hispanic ruins come under government protection.
Dr John Morris of the Belizean Institute of Archaeology said the workers would have been aware of what they were doing.
“It is incredible that someone would actually have the gall to destroy this building out here,” he told local TV channel News 7.
“There is absolutely no way that they would not know that these are Maya mounds,” he said about the ancient structure.
Prosecutors said they were considering bringing criminal charges against the construction company.
Are you visiting the area? Did you see the destruction of the Mayan pyramid? Please share your story using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
A loss like this is certainly a potential blow to our knowledge of the past, our picture of Mayan culture, heck their calendars alone are worth having around for entertainment value if nothing else, but before anyone starts criticizing the locals of Belize for this destruction, look a little deeper.
The economy of Belize is based on tourism and exports, both of which increase foreign influences upon development.
A major constraint on a functioning market economy in Belize continues to be the scarcity of infrastructure investments. Although electricity, telephone, and water utilities are all relatively good, Belize has the most expensive electricity in the region. Large tracts of land which would be suitable for development are inaccessible due to lack of roads.
Ports in Belize City, Dangriga, and Big Creek handle regularly scheduled shipping from the U.S. and the United Kingdom
International air service is provided by American Airlines, Continental Airlines, U.S. Airways, and TACA to gateways in Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami, Florida, and San Salvador.
Want to find assign blame for this destruction? It is with the people who create the demand that the Belize economy is based on and never ask how that demand is being met, not with the people who try to fill that demand in order to attain the same standard of living set by those who want cheap and plentiful produce from countries like this. Just my opinion.
Don’t forget to visit Lindsay, say Hi and Like us on our Facebook Page.
6 comments
