High Temple - Lamanai by junge1

Photography • Historical • posted on Dec 17, 2010

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Description

The High Temple or El Castillo is the tallest of the three excavated and restored temples at the Lamanai site with a height of 33m. It was built in 100 AD and final modifications to the front in 600 - 700 AD give it its current appearance. Archaeologists believe this Mayan site was of moderate size as early as 1,500 BC and some of its later structures were occupied as recently as the 18th century AD, signifying over 3,200 years of occupation. Not like other ancient ruins, much of the archaeological site was built in layers. Successive populations built upon the temples of the ancestors, instead of destroying them. Of the 800 buildings within the complex, less than five percent have been excavated and explored. With a population exceeding 35,000 at the height of the city's power, Lamanai's trading influence extended over the borders of present-day Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Belize. I did not climb this temple because the steps were tall and steep. This picture was taken on 27 November 2010. Thank you for viewing and commenting, Sig...