Mayflower Bocawina National Park
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Mayflower Bocawina National Park
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 Velazquez woodpecker |
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| location | Belize | |
| Geographical location | 16 ° 56 ' N , 88 ° 23' W | |
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| Setup date | 2001 | |
Mayflower Bocawina National Park is a national park in the Stann Creek District in Belize . The park was founded in 2001 and covers 2833 hectares. In addition to a rich flora and fauna, there are also several Maya sites in the park area.
geography
The park is west of the Southern Highway on the edge of the coastal plain. In its western part, the first mountains rise to over 200 m . The area is dense with tropical rainforest.
There are also three waterfalls in the park area: Bocawina and Three Sisters Falls , as well as Antelope Falls , which is a little further away. Antelope Falls is close to the Maya buildings.
Mayan sites
Some of the archaeological sites have been explored, including Pomona Site and some heaps of rubble on the Sittee River . A third site near the waterfall at Silk Grass Creek is called the Mayflower Complex and includes the two smaller buildings Maintzunun and T'au Witz , which are believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes.
Maintzunun means "little hummingbird" is in and of itself too small to have had a ceremonial function, but also too big for a pure residential building. The structures on the site were built with great effort. Sand and large blocks of stone were brought in to build a number of platforms on which, in the end, stilt houses with thatched roofs were built.
Apparently a large pond was created in front of the complex and food was offered as a burnt offering for gods. In a later phase the complex was destroyed by fire. Other excavations uncovered a small, cylindrically incised boat that served as the center of a platform and as a support for another thatched building.
The area was first mapped in 1975. Since then, only small test excavations have been carried out. Given the size and arrangement of the platforms and their careful execution, it can at least be said that the Mayflower Complex had local significance.
The second site, "T'au Witz" (English: "House of the Mountain God") is a small platform on which small pieces of pottery, a small stele and a kind of altar were excavated.
Flora and fauna
Since the establishment of the park 238 species of birds have been counted, including Motmot (motmots), parrots and toucans . It is also home to numerous mammals such as anteaters , howler monkeys , jaguars and tapirs .
visit
The visitor center is right on the street. From there a hiking trail leads to the waterfalls and the summit of the nearby mountain.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Mayflower Bocawina National Park Review. Fodors Travel. 17th September 2016.
- ↑ Mayflower Bocawina National Park. Plan You Belize Vacation. , September 17, 2016.
