Ancient Treasure in Belize

Above: Belize Pirate Ship Replica sailing on Belizean Shores.

Belize is replete with ancient treasure. As the center of the mysterious Maya civilization, Belize has hundreds of Maya sites - most undiscovered and unexplored.

Maya sites are rich with valuable artifacts such as jade ornaments, gold masks and obsidian knives. A sample of Belize ancient treasure below shows an intricate jade necklace and seashells used by the Maya as currency. Most of the objects are over two thousand years old and kept in museums in Belize and abroad.

Above: Intricate Maya jade necklace and seashells used by the ancient Mayas in Belize.

The first European to make Belize his home was Gonzalo Guerrero. This Spanish soldier who was shipwrecked off the Yucatan joined the Maya and is known as the father of the Mestizos.

British Honduras as it was then known was a popular hiding place for British and Scottish pirates who would raid and capture treasure ships from the New World bound for Spain. Many undocumented shipwrecks laden with treasure abound off Belize's treacherous Barrier Reef. And modern history is rife with tales of buried treasure left by the many pirates that made Belize their lair from the 16th century.

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