The City that Endured
Lamanai is one of Belize’s oldest and longest-occupied Maya sites, with evidence of settlement dating to around 1500 BC. Located along the New River Lagoon, its position provided access to important waterways and supported trade, transportation, and communication throughout the Maya world. Despite these pressures, Maya people continued to live in and around Lamanai, maintaining aspects of their culture and connection to the region.
Timeline of Lamanai
Early settlement
Monumental construction develops
Lamanai becomes a major Maya center
Stela 9 records “Smoking Shell”
Final phase of occupation
Spanish contact
Lamanai survives major regional changes
Major archaeological excavations begin
TODAY-Research continues