Visiting Belize’s Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

Contrary to popular belief, most residents of these ancient Mayan cities did not live particularly close to the tall structures that we now call ruins or pyramids. This was often reserved for kings and the political elite. Everyone else lived on the outskirts of these cities and would only enter the ceremonial center for special events or to attend to business. 

Archaeologists believe that the land surrounding Xunantunich was mostly composed of numerous small villages where clusters of farmers grew their own crops. 

Once the ancient city rose to prominence around 600 AD, these farmers began to engage in a trade relationship with the city but they were not necessarily associated with it. This is due to the fact that ancient Mayan cities were often violently attacked by their neighbors in an effort to obtain valuable resources. The farmers surrounding Xunantunich were weary of these invasions and did not want to lose their established plots of land if this were to happen. 

Xunantunich was originally dependent on a more powerful city called Naranjo, which is located in Guatemala. For unknown reasons, Naranjo’s influence began to weaken sometime during the 9th century AD. 

As the city declined, Xunantunich became increasingly powerful. Archaeologists have noted that there are many similarities between Xunantunich and Naranjo, which further solidifies the belief that these two ancient cities were once politically and economically connected. 

It has been theorized that Xunantunich outlasted other nearby cities due to its rich soil, proximity to rivers, and defensive location atop a natural hill. By 1,000 AD the site was largely abandoned.