Press Releases

November 7, 2001

U.S. Ambassador visits El Pilar

On Thursday, November 1st, U.S. Ambassador Russell Freeman and Mrs. Susan Freeman visited the Mayan site of El Pilar. Hosting the visit was Amigos de El Pilar, the community group affiliated with the site, and Dr. Anabel Ford, Director of Belize River Archeological Settlement Survey (BRASS).

Located in the Cayo district, El Pilar was a major Mayan city in the Central Maya Lowlands within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. The site is presently being managed by the Department of Archaeology with support from several organizations including Amigos de El Pilar, BRASS, Help For Progress, and Canan K'aax, a non-governmental organization in Guatemala. As part of the tour, the Freemans had the opportunity to view the monuments presented in the context of the Maya forest illustrating the site as it once flourished for seventeen centuries. Ambassador Freeman said after returning from the visit, "My wife and I were impressed by the natural beauty and history of El Pilar".

Under the guidance of Marcos Garcia, Department of Archeology caretaker, the group started the tour at the Tzunu'un Maya House and Forest Garden where the group enjoyed the attractions of El Pilar Archaeological Reserve Maya flora and fauna. The highlight of the visit was the charting of the new Chikin trail through a corozal, a cohune forest, passing housemounds and storage units called 'chultunes' and on to an ancient Mayan causeway that joins the Nohol Pilar in Belize to Pilar Poniente in Guatemala.

Also part of the visit was a colorful cultural dance 'La Patiada Tapchuco' performed by Isabel Leal who explained that the Mayan princesses reserved this dance for their kings. In addition, there was also a typical Mayan lunch prepared by members of the Amigos de El Pilar community. In honor of Mrs. Freeman's birthday, the Queen of Fiesta El Pilar Ms. Loreni Manzanero presented her with a bouquet of forest garden flowers.

Dr. Anabel Ford said, "Both the Ambassador and his wife Susan were enthusiastic about their visit and touched by the beautiful bouquet that came from the Masewal Forest Garden".