Dr. Anabel Ford of the Uiversity of UCSB seated on her bench at El Pilar
El Pilar (The Waterhole) is an ancient Maya site just 7 miles away from the Western village of Bullet Tree Falls, Cayo District. Cayo as one would have read or will read, is absolutely rich with ancient Maya remains. Its an archaeologists dream space. At El Pilar, enter Dr. Anabel Ford.
Partially Restored Building At El Pilar, Western Belize
Dr. Ford has worked at many different sites in her career as an archaeologist. Among them, the great ancient city of Tikal, in Guatemala. Skilled in the area of excavating and conserving cities, she and her team slowed the pace to study something very different at El Pilar. You see this site is not a site where one gets to see many excavated and conserved buildings. This site is predominantly still below the surface of dirt and jungle growth. Dr, Ford’s team, now for the past years have developed a theory that the ancient Maya forest is not just “wild” per se, it was organized. This, as one could imagine hits a wall of prior knowledge and learning but visiting this site the argument does hold steam.
The Water Reservoir At El Pilar, Western Belize
This city was somewhat large. It hosted perhaps up to 15,000 – 20,000 people at its height. The city is so huge it couldn’t fit only in Belize. A chunk of the city site inside Guatemala and they too have done some work on that side of the city. Stucco and limestone buildings litter the forests although most are unexcavated but what is consistent at the site is the forest. Certainly its an ecologists shot of adrenalin. Its rich with medicinal plants and its an ornithologists gift. Birds of all types and species can be heard and seen all over the site.
The Corbel Vault On A Doorway To A Room At El Pilar, Western Belize
Whatever the case may be with the new focus in thought process in archaeology, as the argument picks up steam in the archaeology fraternity, El Pilar, for certain, does not only beckon to archaeology buffs. More and more we see ecological, medicinal plants and ornithological tours go through the site. The most important beauty of this site one can argue, is that regardless the reason for why you go to El Pilar, you will get so much more than you bargained for.
A Partially Restored Room With Building Mounds Still Under the Forest Floor
Lets go!
Nota Benne: All land tours in Belize are organized 15 guests to 1 guide ratio.
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