Altun Ha

About Altun Ha

Altun Ha is Belize's most visited Maya site and home of the famous jade head of Kinich Ahau — the largest Maya jade object ever found. The site's twin plazas and accessible pyramids make it a popular stop on the Northern Highway.

Highlights

• Temple of the Masonry Altars — site of the jade head discovery
• Jade head of Kinich Ahau (now in Belmopan Museum of Belize)
• Temple A-1 (Temple of the Green Tomb) with rich burial goods
• Two main plaza groups connected by a causeway
• Featured on the Belikin beer label

Temples & Tombs

Temple of the Masonry Altars (B-4)

The tallest and most important structure at the site, rising 16 metres above the main plaza. Its burial chambers have yielded the richest collection of Maya jade objects ever found in Belize, including the celebrated jade head of the sun deity Kinich Ahau — the largest carved Maya jade object known, weighing 4.42 kilograms. The temple takes its name from a series of stone altars discovered within its construction fill, each associated with caches of ritual offerings.

Photo by Alisa Matthews on Unsplash

Temple of the Green Tomb (A-1)

A pyramid on the north side of the site's first plaza whose interior contained the royal burial known as the Green Tomb, named for the 300 jade objects found alongside the interred individual. Fragments of a Maya codex — a screenfold painted book — were also recovered, an extraordinarily rare find; though deteriorated beyond legibility, they confirm that perishable painted books were in use at Altun Ha during the Classic period.