Exploring Marco Gonzalez...

The entrance to Marco Gonzalez Maya Site has been greatly improved thanks to the hard work and dedication of Jan Brown and crew. "London Bridges" have been set up leading to the site, where, on our arrival, we observed students from both Wilmington, NC, and London, England packing up a recently recovered skeleton, uncovering another set of bones, clearing some of the area, and a few taking notes.

This perfectly intact bowl was recovered recently,

and is a great find for the students on this dig.

Great slabs of stone were discovered in a nearby wooded area.

The skull of one of the skeletal remains before it is fully packed for moving from the area.

Another skeleton was discovered, and students have begun unearthing it.

Dr. Scott and Liz Graham.

There are tons of broken pottery all around, on the way to the site, at the site, and in the surrounding areas. According to history, the Mayas ritually broke their pottery every year.

There is a lot to be done to prepare the site for visitors en masse, but each step is a thrill, and each new discovery brings the public closer to its history. For the moment, the site is open to archaeology students and experts as it is prepared for public viewing in the near future.

Marco Gonzalez Maya Site Project goes to a new level

Tourism and Education stakeholders were hosted by the Board of Directors of the Marco Gonzalez Maya Site Project at a reception at the Belize Yacht Club. Those in attendance were able to view artifacts from the Maya Site, plus met visiting archaeologists.


As part of her Master's thesis, Miss Nadia Glassup, University College London, England, is also conducting a four day exhibition (July 8th through of Marco Gonzalez artifacts and the importance of the island site.

A media tour of the site itself has been scheduled, pending the inclement weather. Watch for more photos as they become available.

Oil prospecting raises concerns in Orange Walk

The splendor and beauty of the Lamanai Archaeological site is being threatened by a nearby dredging project believed to be a prospect for oil exploration in that fragile area. According to the Northern Tour Guide Association, members of the community are sounding alarms about the close proximity of the dredging taking place south of the Lamanai Maya site. Oil prospecting in Orange Walk is as much concern for residents and ecologists as it is for the various Nonprofit Organizations that have banded together to lobby against it.

On Tuesday, June 8th, members of the media along with BTIA members and tour guides set out to visit the scene; a 40 minute boat ride through the New River Lagoon. Long time resident of Orange Walk, Wilfredo Novelo was among the first to notice the dredging of canals taking place several months ago. “I started seeing activity like what is happening in Shipyard with the Mennonites building large barges on land and they brought a huge metal boat. When I asked what the purpose of it, they told me it was for drilling oil. In regards to who is behind it, the workers on the site that I spoke with were tight lipped and did not disclose any solid information. The artificial canals within the vast wetlands are believed to be used in the prospecting exercise. We have an obligation as Belizeans to save and secure the health of the river for our future generations.”

Errol Cadle, tour guide, expressed his anguish on the matter and stated that this will definitely affect his and Belize’s livelihood and especially ruin our fragile eco-system. “I’ve been a tour guide for most of my life, and visitors enjoy all the splendor and glory of this area. It’s rich in history and for us to suspect that the black gold is being prospected in this area leaves us with great concern; this could be a disaster. If there would be a leak it will be very catastrophic because the river flows this way. It will destroy everything in its path and the birds, wildlife and fishes will be gone. A majestic barge equipped with oil drills and an old beaten up boat named ‘Horizon Bell Florida’ were anchored on the river side. This was used to dredge the linear canals upstream, in close proximity to diverse terrestrial and riverine eco-systems that surround it. Also, the Lamanai Maya site is very close and we are greatly concerned”.

It is uncertain who or which company are behind the project. Novelo confirmed that there is only speculation about oil prospecting activities to happen in the New River Lagoon Area. The Association (NTGA) will be contacting the Department of Geology for a confirmed report and to inquire of any dispensation granted. The New River is the most historic and largest freshwater lake in Belize.