Most of the visitors come here by boat traveling New River, but on that day, we were the only people who came overland here. Lamanai in Belize can be distinguished due to several aspects, preserved stucco masks and use of metal objects. This place has been inhabited for many centuries and earliest structures date back to 100 BC. Unlike many others, the city was not abandoned at the end of Classic Period and continued to be occupied until the 17th century, the beginning of Colonial Era.
Maya civilization relied on a stone-based technology. Out of stone they made knife blades, axes, scrapers and grinding tools. However, Maya imported metal objects from other parts of Central America. Excavation in Lamanai uncovered a significant number of copper artifacts. For Maya metal objects had only ritual and decorative use. They displayed such items during social gatherings and ritual ceremonies. Even in the early Colonial era, Maya continued producing their own metal ornaments.
