Xunantunich, Belize, photographed by Dr. Linda Schele. The name Xunantunich is a combination of the Maya words xunaan, noble lady, and tuunich, stone sculpture, translating to mean “sculpture of lady.” This is not the original name of the site (which is unknown) but was given to the site by archaeologists upon its modern discovery. While the site has evidence of occupation dating to the Preclassic period (2000 BC), the monumental architecture dates to the Late Classic (AD 550 - 830). Xunantunich is particularly famous for the large stucco friezes on the side of El Castillo, the largest temple at the site. For a further discussion of iconography found here, see “Death Becomes Her: An Analysis of Panel 3, Xunantunich, Belize” by Helmke & Awe (2017).
