Most people think of places like Rome, Greece, or Egypt when the topic of ruins comes up, but if you live in North America, there is an entire world of ancient ruins much closer to home than any of these. Throughout the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and continuing into the country of Belize lies a system of ruins that were once the benchmark of an ancient, yet sophisticated society: the Maya.
The Maya civilization was a prominent society noted for its development of written language in the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as its outstanding achievements in art, mathematics, astronomy, and architecture.
The stepped pyramids that served as important places of worship remain very much intact today, along with the structures around them that included game courts, city centers, and areas that facilitated societal tasks, much like the infrastructure of modern towns.
Large, flat stones, called stelae, are carved with the intricate hieroglyphics of the Mayan civilization, which tell stories of military victories, genealogy, rulers, and other significant accomplishments. Though many of these carvings have been weathered through the centuries, the remaining tablets still project a sense of a once-powerful and flourishing civilization.
Most of these ruins are open to the public for a fee, and you can easily hire a guide onsite who can give you a historical account of all the ruins you encounter. Even if you just want to take it all in on your own, exploring the Mayan history of Belize through its ruins is an outdoor experience to remember.
Featured Image from Stephanie Klepacki/Unsplash
