The “imminent” paving of Albert and Regent Streets is not so imminent after all. A release from the Belize City Council indicates that following discussions with the utility companies responsible for telecommunications, water and electricity, a further two months will be needed to upgrade their underground installations. During that time the National Fire Service will […]
Last week the Belize City Council prepared the public for the imminent paving of Albert and Regent Streets … but it turns out they jumped the gun. Today News Five’s Janelle Chanona found out why. Anthony Michael, Belize City Deputy Mayor “We want to see a transformation where we come to a first class street […]
Toledo is most often referred to as the forgotten district but in archaeological terms, Stann Creek comes closest to that description. However, a new preservation project by the Institute of Archaeology should change that. The Serpon Sugar Mill site, located along the banks of the Sittee River, was officially declared a reserve several years ago […]
On a per capita basis, Belize probably contains the remains of more ancient communities than any place on earth. Yet, despite the abundance of sites and their steadily growing stream of visitors, the science of archaeology has never really captured the imagination of most Belizeans. As archaeologists from around the world gather at the Bliss, […]
Belizean archaeologist Dr. Jaime Awe has done it again. Just months after releasing his book 101 Questions and Answers about the Ancient Maya, he is back promoting another publication. Maya Cities and Sacred Caves: A Guide to the Maya Sites of Belize includes maps, photographs, descriptions, and historical information on ten ancient cities and three […]
Deep in the Cayo district, the archaeological site of El Pilar straddles the Belize-Guatemala border. But the ancient Maya ruin is facing a modern day dilemma: development that includes the preservation of the natural environment while promoting tourism. News Five’s Karla Vernon explains. Dr. Anabel Ford, Archaeologist ?El Pilar is probably six times the size […]
Archaeology is one of the pillars of attraction to Belize, but this week an educational publication addresses some lingering misconceptions being perpetuated about our ancient ancestors. The book is entitled “101 Questions and Answers about the Ancient Maya.” According to author and archaeologist Dr. Jaime Awe, the compilation of information is an easy to read […]
When most people think about Mayan archaeology they imagine excavations in royal tombs or trenches cut into tree covered mounds. Few of us would expect that a significant find could be made underwater… particularly in a swamp. But Belizean archaeology is a many-faceted field, as the presentations at this year’s Archaeology Symposium, now underway in […]
Cabinet says no decision was ever taken on the project and the minister of culture says he’s against it…but those disclaimers have still not allayed fears that government may permit some form of privatization of the ancient Maya Site of Caracol. With the Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize Ecotourism Association already on record with […]
On yesterday’s newscast we interviewed a number of archaeologists attending the annual symposium now on at the Princess Hotel. And while those scientists and most of their colleagues are investigating ancient ruins, they sometimes run across more modern artefacts. Patrick Jones, has more. Patrick Jones, Reporting With hundreds of ancient sites scattered across the Belizean […]
In its inaugural edition last year the Belize Archaeology Symposium surpassed all expectations in terms of presentation and attendance. Not content to rest on its laurels, the team at the Institute of Archaeology today kicked off the 2004 version at the Princess Hotel. Patrick Jones was one of the many participants. Patrick Jones, Reporting The […]
With so many archaeologists gathered in one place, Minister of Culture Mark Espat could not help but comment on the hot button issue of how to administer and develop the nation’s many archaeological sites. At the symposium’s opening banquet on Tuesday night Espat made it clear that he has no use for any proposals that […]
And while we’re still on the subject of transparency, government appears to be very sensitive regarding a plan to involve the private sector in developing the area around the Caracol archeological site. On Monday of this week an unknown source distributed to the news media copies of what purported to be an unsigned memorandum of […]
For close to two millennia it?s been one of the busiest pieces of real estate in Belize. And while the traffic these days consists primarily of tourists, thanks to recent improvements at the site, a visit to Lamanai will be better than ever. Patrick Jones reports. Patrick Jones, Reporting A trip to Lamanai is really […]
It’s an impressive ancient Maya site, but few Belizeans or tourists have experienced its grandeur. Today, with an access road replacing the need for a boat ride and a newly dedicated visitor’s centre, Cerros–or Cerro Maya–is ready to take its place alongside Altun Ha, Xunantunich, and Caracol. Janelle Chanona, Reporting In its heyday, the city […]
This evening at the House of Culture a new book on Belizean Archaeology is being launched. It is a compilation of papers presented at a symposium earlier this year and promises to be a valuable resource not only for archaeologists, but educators, students, tour guides, and anyone else who is interested in finding out the […]
It’s not a thoroughfare that carries much traffic, but on the theory that “if you build it, they will come” government has signed a contract for major improvements in the road to the ancient Maya site of Caracol. The upgrading of six miles of road and paving of another nine point two miles will be […]
A team of officials from the Institute of Archaeology is set to start salvaging work at a small Mayan site in Benque Viejo del Carmen that was bulldozed on Tuesday afternoon. But even as work begins, there is still confusion over exactly how property owner Francisco Miranda obtained title to the land that is clearly […]
There was supposed to be a mass demonstration today to protest the destruction of a Maya mound in Benque Viejo. For whatever reason, the people didn’t turn out, but the work of the bulldozer has been stopped and Institute of Archaeology personnel were on the scene. So was the Mayor, and he was not the […]
It’s one of the most popular tourism destinations in the Cayo District, and an important archaeological site. And today the Barton Creek Cave was reopened and rededicated by the Department of Archaeology and the National Institute for History and Culture in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board. News 5 was on hand for the ceremonies, […]
In last night’s newscast the former landowner of the area surrounding the Barton Creek cave, Mike Bogaert, claimed that his land was appropriated by government without compensation, and that government workers had threatened him with guns. Today, the Director for the Institute of Archaeology, Dr. Jaime Awe, spoke to News 5 about the attempts of […]
With the tourism boom showing no signs of letting up, there will be increasing pressure to find new visitor attractions and bring more formal organisation to existing ones. The result is that while the natural wonder may retain its beauty, the socio-political fallout can get downright ugly. The cave I visited yesterday is a good […]
On last night’s newscast I reported from the archaeology symposium on the latest discoveries at a site known as Actun Chanona. Today, I found out that there’s more to local archaeology than a familiar name. Janelle Chanona, Reporting Day two of the Belize Archaeology Symposium saw more experts present their latest findings on the ancient […]
A major archaeology symposium got underway this morning at the Princess Hotel…and as predicted on yesterday’s newscast, there was indeed some gold buried in those hills of academic jargon. I even managed to catch one lecture of profound personal interest. Janelle Chanona, Reporting They have come from all across the country, and from Universities throughout […]
For most of us, our nation’s numerous ancient Maya sites are places you visit on a school trip or carry tourists to as a guide. As for the science of archaeology, that was usually left to foreigners who had the patience and money to spend years at prestigious universities, followed by more years digging in […]
