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Mayan Ruin: Lamanai
Today we finally got to visit the Mayan ruins of Lamanai, definitely one of my favorite days so far. I love history, I love anthropology, and their intersection. After having taken an extremely interesting course on the history and politics of world religions back at my home university in Amsterdam, I am particularly excited about visiting (ancient) religious sites. And Lamanai is a very special place; it is absolutely stunning. In San Ignacio, I’ve been to both Cahal Pech and Xunantunich, which were both very very beautiful, but I have to admit Lamanai is even more so. The surrounding, sunny rainforest, the shining crystal water, and of course the constructions itself.
One of the main things I have learned from this course, from all the excursions and class discussions, is that culture should be looked at as a process instead of as a static period in time. Culture is always evolving, renewing itself, being changed from the outside as well as from within. There is no such thing as ‘the Mayan culture’, and it should definitely not be limited to the ruins from a distant, long past time. Mayans did not go extinct. Moreover, cultural elements from the time of the ruins have prevailed, even until now, be it slightly adapted and transformed into newer, just as interesting and exciting ways of living.
That is something I try to keep in mind whenever I visit archaeological sites like Lamanai. However, that does not at all mean that I cannot try to imagine what it once could have looked like. I love walking around the massive constructions, wondering, imagining, and just a little bit of speculating and assuming does no harm.
Fortunately, the boat ride took us well over an hour; Lots and lots of time to think.
Post By: Judith
Quest University Exchange Student
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