Yucatec Maya for “rockstone pond” (loose translation)

See reading list for publications 

The ancient Maya city of Altun Ha is located in the Orange Walk district off the old Northern Highway in northern Belize. The Maya began occupying the Altun Ha area in 1000 BC (Early Preclassic) and the city was expanded in AD 700. During the Classic period the population reached it’s peak with an estimated population of 3,000. Although that population is fairly low compared to many Maya cities, the individuals who resided in and around Altun Ha appear to have been considerably wealthy and powerful. This is evident from the amount of high status items including jade recovered at the site. Structure B4 revealed a richly furnished tomb of one of Altun Ha's rulers, and among its contents the largest jadeite sculpture yet found. It represents Kinich Ahau, the Maya sun god. Another tomb contained 300 jadeite objects along with residue from a codex or a Maya book (Pendergast 1979, 1990).

The evidence recovered from Altun Ha indicates that this center participated in, and reaped the benefits from, a trade network – probably dominated by Tikal – that connected the Caribbean coast with the core of the central lowlands.