Santa Rita

Santa Rita is a Maya archaeological site on the outskirts of Corozal Town, Belize, believed to be the ancient city of Chetumal. Occupation dates from the Preclassic Period (1200-900 BCE), with burials containing ceramics and shell jewellery from this era. The site survived the Classic Maya collapse and became a major Late Post-Classic trading centre (1350-1530 AD), exchanging jade, obsidian, and gold for locally grown cacao and honey with Northern Yucatan and Highland Guatemala. Excavations by Arlen and Diane Chase (1979-1985) documented its role as capital of the Chetumal Province, one of 19 Maya states recorded by the Spanish. Only Structure 7 remains fully restored, as much of the site was dismantled for modern road fill and building materials.