Contractor bulldozes Mayan temple for roadfill aggregate

[eShirl]

A major Mayan Monument had been bulldozed for roadfill aggregate. 7news went to Orange Walk District, near the northern district boundary to find out that Noh Mul – or at least a large part of it – is no more. Jules Vasquez reports.

Noh Mul. it’s name means the Big Hill but it’s not so big any more, this once towering and stout ceremonial center in San Jose/San Pablo has been whittled down to a narrow core by excavators and bulldozers. Whodunnit? Contractors who’re using the rich gravel and limestone content to fill roads in nearby Douglas Village.

-snip-

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/05/2013/no-more-noh-mul-contractor-bulldozes-mayan-temple

(I think this is somewhere in Belize)

[dipsydoodle]

1. WTF

[RC]

2. What the HELL is wrong with some people?

This stupidity calls for prison time.

[MrScorpio]

3. JEEZUS! (Or some other applicable Mayan deity) nt

[Turbineguy]

4. Don't hire the Taliban.

[HiPointDem]

5. wtf is 'douglas village'? sounds like an expat enclave.

[Moondog]

7. You may well be right. However

Belize was formerly known as British Honduras. The official language of Belize is English, although Spanish and Creole are far more prevalent. Their legal system is based upon English common law. So maybe the name "Douglas Village" is simply a throwback to the colonial era.

[HiPointDem]

10. yes, i guess the place name is 'douglas' & it's a village, rather than a development called

'douglas village'.

Douglas is becoming known as a jumping-on or off point along the Rio Hondo for smugglers of both humans (Chinese Nationals!) and drugs, due to its river border with Chetumal, Mexico and eventually the USA.

http://www.pbase.com/meg96/douglasbelize

[a la izquierda]

17. A lot of Belize has English place names...

Along with Spanish (near the Mexican and Guatemalan borders), Yukatek, and Garifuna.

[eShirl]

6. Archaeologists react to the news

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=25471

Now, this was the main temple, the ceremonial center for Noh Mul, at about 20 metres among the tallest buildings in Northern Belize - and it’s not centuries old, it’s millennia, thousands of years old and the thought that it’s rich limestone bricks cut with stone tools in the BC era, the thought that this could be used for road fill is a manifest outrage and a particularly painful one for these Archeologists who were called out to the area today. We were there when they first arrived and got their initial emotional reaction:

Dr. Allan Moore - Archaeologist, Institute of Archaeology

"This is one of the largest bulding in Norther Belize. I am appalled! I was hoping that when I was driving up from the main San Juan road that it would not be this one but when I got closer I couldn't believe it when I saw all the trucks. This is an incredible destruction."

Dr. John Morris - Archaeologist, Institute of Archaeology

"This is one of the worst that I have seen in my entire 25 years of Archaeology in Belize. We can't salvaged what has happened out here - it is an incredible display of ignorance. I am appalled and don't know what to say at this particular moment."

-snip-

[onethatcares]

8. Ah hell, Mayan architechture

seen one, seen em all. Just think how great the big box stores will look

[Quantess]

9. For real?

That's horrible.

[freshwest]

11. From the link, this was the work of the United Democratic Party

Our Party

From its genesis almost four decades ago, the United Democratic Party has been about broad-based people participation and equal opportunity for the masses. In fact, the party saw its birth and formation through the amalgamation of various opposition elements constituting a large segment of the Belizean population systematically neglected and locked-out of the political process which featured a virtual one-party rule.

The UDP has since deepened and expanded its creed and mission of service to all through equitable distribution of public resources and opportunities, underpinned by sound fiscal policies that ensure economic stability, sustainable growth, and massive development of physical and social infrastructure.

Internationally, the UDP is respected as the party that operates a responsible and fiscally sound administration; at home it is appreciated as the government that defends the national interest, champions the cause of the masses and brings compassion to the most disadvantaged in the community.

In true democratic fashion, the UDP is a party of the People, by the People and always for the People.

http://udp.org.bz/who-we-are/our-party/

Specifically, the contractors were part of this part of the government:

http://udp.org.bz/upcoming-elections/general/

There are pictures of the different actors involved. All legal, apparently.

[freshwest]

13. The international anthropologists were not in the decision making loop. Here it is:

Action Plan

* Extend the school assistance program from $300 to $350, the additional $50 as a uniform and book assistance grant.
* Shareholders income from private companies who gross $5 million or less will be exempt from personal income taxes.
* Establish a mortgage guarantee scheme to assist first time homeowners to cover their 10% down payment on mortgage loans up to $100,000.
* Free up VOIP to residential landline customers in the next few months to be eventually extended to mobile devices.
* A full review of the import duties regime with a view to rationalize it.
* Establishment of a National Bank.
* Establish an insurance guarantee program for Exports.
* Extended outpatient service at all polyclinics to a full 12 hours, including weekends.
* 15,000 house lots and farm land granted to new first time land owners.
* A new Belize City Infrastructure project.
* Rebuild access roads to major tourist sites.
* Build a new municipal airport in Belize City.
* Construction of a new road and bridge at Chetumal Street, with the construction of a new police headquarters, sporting complex, administration building and national bus terminal on the new boulevard.
* New drainage project for Belama extension and northern highway.
* Rebuild Northern Highway from Haulover Bridge to Boom Junction.
* Emphasize the teaching of Belize’s culture, history and politics at primary and secondary schools.
* Construct new public hospitals in San Pedro and Punta Gorda.

http://udp.org.bz/action-plan/

I was wondering why the website pages were in English, didn't know much about the country. Turns out it's not the typical Central American country we may have thought it was.

Belize is a Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy ruled by Queen Elizabeth 2. Which means 'Nothing to see here, move along,' I guess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize

[DirkGently]

12. Which is why all our cities will someday be roadfill as well.

We are idiots.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. "we are idiots"...

Douglas Adams would agree.

[MFM008]

14. Ignorance, stupidity, poverty

has to be warded of constantly other wise this happens. If you dont the next will be the pyramids.

[kelliekat44]

16. The wealthy all over the world consider themselves to be above the law and history.

They get away with it.

[a la izquierda]

18. Flipping tragic.

Mayan ruins are spectacular and very varied depending on place.

[eShirl]

19. kick for the Monday Morning folks

[Quantess]

20. This chaps my hide. (no text)

[ManiacJoe]

21. Misleading photo from the article.

The included photo is NOT the temple in question. See post #6 for the actual one.