This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22521669
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Mayan pyramid bulldozed by Belize construction crew | Mayan pyramid bulldozed by Belize construction crew |
(1 day later) | |
Officials in Belize say a construction company has destroyed one of the country's largest Mayan pyramids. | Officials in Belize say a construction company has destroyed one of the country's largest Mayan pyramids. |
Head of the Belizean Institute of Archaeology Jaime Awe said the Noh Mul temple was levelled by a road-building company seeking gravel for road filler. | Head of the Belizean Institute of Archaeology Jaime Awe said the Noh Mul temple was levelled by a road-building company seeking gravel for road filler. |
The Mayan temple dates back to pre-Columbian times and is estimated to be 2,300 year old. Only a small core of the pyramid was left standing. | The Mayan temple dates back to pre-Columbian times and is estimated to be 2,300 year old. Only a small core of the pyramid was left standing. |
Police said they were investigating the incident. | Police said they were investigating the incident. |
Archaeologists said this was not the first incident of its kind. | Archaeologists said this was not the first incident of its kind. |
"Bulldozing Maya mounds for road fill is an endemic problem in Belize," Prof Normand Hammond told the Associated Press news agency. | "Bulldozing Maya mounds for road fill is an endemic problem in Belize," Prof Normand Hammond told the Associated Press news agency. |
Archaeologists said they were alerted to the destruction late last week. | Archaeologists said they were alerted to the destruction late last week. |
The Maya complex lies on private land but under Belizean law, any pre-Hispanic ruins come under government protection. | The Maya complex lies on private land but under Belizean law, any pre-Hispanic ruins come under government protection. |
Dr John Morris of the Belizean Institute of Archaeology said the workers would have been aware of what they were doing. | Dr John Morris of the Belizean Institute of Archaeology said the workers would have been aware of what they were doing. |
"It is incredible that someone would actually have the gall to destroy this building out here," he told local TV channel News 7. | "It is incredible that someone would actually have the gall to destroy this building out here," he told local TV channel News 7. |
"There is absolutely no way that they would not know that these are Maya mounds," he said about the ancient structure. | "There is absolutely no way that they would not know that these are Maya mounds," he said about the ancient structure. |
Prosecutors said they were considering bringing criminal charges against the construction company. | Prosecutors said they were considering bringing criminal charges against the construction company. |