- Address: Orange Walk, Belize;
- Discovered: in 1973.
Quayo is an ancient Mayan city in the province of Orange Walk in the north of Belize . One of the oldest Mayan settlements on earth: presumably, it was inhabited since 2000 BC. e. (according to the latest research - since 1200 BC). The ruins of the city of Quayo are of interest to everyone who is interested in ancient Indian culture. The earliest burials discovered in Belize are in Quayo. During the excavations, a large number of pottery and ornaments were found, which are currently displayed in museums.
The history of Quayo
The remains of the Mayan settlement were found quite accidentally in 1973 by the British archaeologist Norman Hammond in the local distillery. Nobody knew what the name of the city was, so they got their present name by the name of a nearby farm belonging to the Quayo family. The analysis of the finds (including the remains of animals and plants) revealed certain peculiarities of the life of Indians. They used corn and cassava for food, carved objects from animal bones, polished stones and sea shells. Already in those days in the city of Quayo there was a social structure, a division into noble people and the poor, for example, in one of the children's burials, researchers found precious stones. Also in the city was found pearls from the province, distant 400 km from Quayo, which confirms the existence of trade links with other Indian settlements.
Ruins of the city of Quayo today
On the territory of the city you can see a large square, the main palace, a pyramidal temple, the remains of residential buildings of thin vines, bound together and covered with an even layer of clay, and several underground storerooms. The buildings look ancient and not as impressive as the ruins of other Mayan cities, but are of undoubted interest to those who are interested in the history of the Mayan civilization of the pre-classical period. Many buildings have preserved traces of wars and fires, and one can only imagine what a stormy life boiled in these parts in the old days.
How to get there?
Ruins of Quayo are located 5 kilometers to the west of Orange Walk, on Yo-Creek Road about 150 kilometers north of the capital of Belize. Since the ruins are in a private area, near the warehouses with Caribbean rum, tourists will need to get permission from the owners of the distillery. If desired, you can use the services of a guide from Orange Walk.