{"id":442,"date":"2025-06-20T02:55:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T02:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442"},"modified":"2025-06-20T02:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T02:55:18","slug":"belizes-jade-head-the-maya-treasure-you-must-see-to-believe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442","title":{"rendered":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of<a href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=411\" title=\"\"> Altun Ha<\/a>. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the <strong>Crown Jewel of Belize<\/strong>\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a must-see for travelers exploring Central America\u2019s rich cultural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udf3f What Is the Jade Head?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Discovered in <strong>1968<\/strong> at the <strong>Maya site of Altun Ha<\/strong>, the Jade Head is a <strong>meticulously carved sculpture<\/strong> made of jadeite\u2014a rare and precious stone highly valued by the Maya. Weighing nearly <strong>10 pounds (4.42 kg)<\/strong> and standing <strong>6 inches tall (15 cm)<\/strong>, it remains the <strong>largest carved jade object<\/strong> ever found in the Maya world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sculpture represents <strong>Kinich Ahau<\/strong>, the Maya sun god, symbolizing royal power and divine connection. Its intricate features, including <strong>crossed eyes, ornate headdress<\/strong>, and royal glyphs, reflect the high status of the individual buried with it\u2014believed to be a powerful priest or ruler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f Where It Was Found: The Ruins of <a href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=411\" title=\"\">Altun Ha<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Located just <strong>31 miles (50 km) north of Belize City<\/strong>, <strong>Altun Ha<\/strong> is a stunning archaeological site with <strong>two main plazas<\/strong>, towering temple-pyramids, and panoramic views of the surrounding jungle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Jade Head was found buried in <strong>Structure B-4<\/strong>, the Temple of the Masonry Altars\u2014Altun Ha\u2019s largest pyramid. Inside a royal tomb, archaeologists unearthed the jade sculpture along with <strong>over 40 ceremonial artifacts<\/strong>, providing rare insight into the Maya\u2019s spiritual practices and political structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd0e Why It\u2019s So Important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cultural Significance:<\/strong> The Jade Head is more than an artistic masterpiece\u2014it\u2019s a symbol of <strong>divine kingship<\/strong> and <strong>cosmic power<\/strong> in Maya belief systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Symbol:<\/strong> It\u2019s so beloved in Belize that it appears on the country\u2019s <strong>currency, passports, and tourism branding<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rare Material:<\/strong> The jadeite used likely came from Guatemala\u2019s <strong>Motagua River Valley<\/strong>, hundreds of miles away\u2014proof of the Maya\u2019s vast trade networks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Archaeological Rarity:<\/strong> Very few Maya jade artifacts have survived in such excellent condition or on this grand scale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\udded How to See the Jade Head (or Its Replica)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the original <strong>Jade Head is securely stored<\/strong> at the <strong>Central Bank of Belize<\/strong> for preservation and security, a <strong>stunning replica is on display<\/strong> at the <strong>Museum of Belize<\/strong> in Belize City. Visitors can get up close to the sculpture, learn about its discovery, and explore the broader history of Maya civilization in Belize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also explore the ruins of Altun Ha on a <strong>guided tour<\/strong>, often included in day trips from cruise ports and Belize City. Standing atop the very temple where the artifact was found is a surreal, unforgettable experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcf8 Insider Travel Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Best Time to Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=411\" title=\"\">Altun Ha<\/a>:<\/strong> December to April (dry season) for cooler weather and clearer skies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tour Tip:<\/strong> Hire a local guide\u2014they bring the ruins to life with storytelling and deep cultural context.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Combine Destinations:<\/strong> Pair your visit with <strong>Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary<\/strong> or the <strong>Belize Zoo<\/strong> for a full-day eco-cultural adventure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Museum Stop:<\/strong> Don\u2019t miss the <strong>Museum of Belize<\/strong>\u2014it\u2019s small but packed with national treasures, including ancient ceramics, tools, and the Jade Head replica.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2728 Why You Must See It to Believe It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Few artifacts capture the imagination quite like the <strong>Jade Head of Belize<\/strong>. Its luminous green surface, divine symbolism, and mysterious past make it a one-of-a-kind experience for travelers, history lovers, and cultural explorers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re <strong>standing atop the ruins of <a href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=411\" title=\"\">Altun Ha<\/a><\/strong> or <strong>face-to-face with the sculpture\u2019s replica in Belize City<\/strong>, the story of the Jade Head connects you to a civilization that shaped the Americas for over 2,000 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\uddf3 Plan Your Adventure Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready to walk in the footsteps of ancient Maya royalty? Add Altun Ha and Belize\u2019s Jade Head to your travel bucket list\u2014you truly have to see it to believe it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442\" title=\"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[206,128,205,207],"class_list":{"0":"post-442","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tourism","8":"tag-altun-ha-maya-ruins","9":"tag-belize-travel-guide","10":"tag-jade-head-belize","11":"tag-museum-of-belize"},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.1.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 5.0.1.1\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"explorebelizeplaces.com -\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:secure_url\" content=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-20T02:55:17+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-20T02:55:18+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#blogposting\",\"name\":\"Belize\\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com\",\"headline\":\"Belize\\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?author=1#author\"},\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/Altun-Ha-Jade-Head.webp\",\"width\":500,\"height\":553,\"caption\":\"Jade Head of Belize representing the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau, carved from green jadeite\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-20T02:55:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-20T02:55:18+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"commentCount\":22,\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#webpage\"},\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#webpage\"},\"articleSection\":\"Tourism, Altun Ha Maya ruins, Belize travel guide, Jade Head Belize, Museum of Belize\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?cat=19#listItem\",\"name\":\"Tourism\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?cat=19#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Tourism\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?cat=19\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#listItem\",\"name\":\"Belize\\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe\"},\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#listItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Belize\\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?cat=19#listItem\",\"name\":\"Tourism\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"explorebelizeplaces.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442\\\/#organizationLogo\",\"width\":300,\"height\":100},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442\\\/#organizationLogo\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?author=1#author\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?author=1\",\"name\":\"Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#authorImage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e4dd8388079fd17028993472a707b96e?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"width\":96,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"Admin\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442\",\"name\":\"Belize\\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com\",\"description\":\"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\\u2014is more than just a relic; it\\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/#website\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#breadcrumblist\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?author=1#author\"},\"creator\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?author=1#author\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/Altun-Ha-Jade-Head.webp\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442\\\/#mainImage\",\"width\":500,\"height\":553,\"caption\":\"Jade Head of Belize representing the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau, carved from green jadeite\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/?p=442#mainImage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-20T02:55:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-20T02:55:18+00:00\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"explorebelizeplaces.com\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/explorebelizeplaces.com\\\/#organization\"}}]}\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO -->\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com","description":"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a","canonical_url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442","robots":"max-image-preview:large","keywords":"","webmasterTools":{"miscellaneous":""},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#blogposting","name":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com","headline":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?author=1#author"},"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Altun-Ha-Jade-Head.webp","width":500,"height":553,"caption":"Jade Head of Belize representing the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau, carved from green jadeite"},"datePublished":"2025-06-20T02:55:17+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-20T02:55:18+00:00","inLanguage":"en-US","commentCount":22,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#webpage"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#webpage"},"articleSection":"Tourism, Altun Ha Maya ruins, Belize travel guide, Jade Head Belize, Museum of Belize"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com#listItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?cat=19#listItem","name":"Tourism"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?cat=19#listItem","position":2,"name":"Tourism","item":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?cat=19","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#listItem","name":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe"},"previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com#listItem","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#listItem","position":3,"name":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe","previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?cat=19#listItem","name":"Tourism"}}]},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/#organization","name":"explorebelizeplaces.com","url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442\/#organizationLogo","width":300,"height":100},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442\/#organizationLogo"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?author=1#author","url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?author=1","name":"Admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#authorImage","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e4dd8388079fd17028993472a707b96e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","width":96,"height":96,"caption":"Admin"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#webpage","url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442","name":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com","description":"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#breadcrumblist"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?author=1#author"},"creator":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?author=1#author"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Altun-Ha-Jade-Head.webp","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442\/#mainImage","width":500,"height":553,"caption":"Jade Head of Belize representing the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau, carved from green jadeite"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442#mainImage"},"datePublished":"2025-06-20T02:55:17+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-20T02:55:18+00:00"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/","name":"explorebelizeplaces.com","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/#organization"}}]},"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"explorebelizeplaces.com -","og:type":"article","og:title":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com","og:description":"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a","og:url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442","og:image":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png","og:image:secure_url":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png","article:published_time":"2025-06-20T02:55:17+00:00","article:modified_time":"2025-06-20T02:55:18+00:00","twitter:card":"summary_large_image","twitter:title":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe - explorebelizeplaces.com","twitter:description":"Deep in the lush jungles of northern Belize lies one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Mesoamerican archaeology: the Jade Head of Altun Ha. This ancient Maya masterpiece\u2014also known as the Crown Jewel of Belize\u2014is more than just a relic; it\u2019s a window into a powerful civilization, a sacred artifact of divine meaning, and a","twitter:image":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-logo-for-explore-belize-2.png"},"aioseo_meta_data":{"post_id":"442","title":null,"description":null,"keywords":null,"keyphrases":{"focus":{"keyphrase":"Altun Ha","score":73,"analysis":{"keyphraseInTitle":{"score":3,"maxScore":9,"error":1},"keyphraseInDescription":{"score":9,"maxScore":9,"error":0},"keyphraseLength":{"score":9,"maxScore":9,"error":0,"length":2},"keyphraseInURL":{"score":1,"maxScore":5,"error":1},"keyphraseInIntroduction":{"score":9,"maxScore":9,"error":0},"keyphraseInSubHeadings":{"score":3,"maxScore":9,"error":1},"keyphraseInImageAlt":[],"keywordDensity":{"type":"best","score":9,"maxScore":9,"error":0}}},"additional":[]},"primary_term":null,"canonical_url":null,"og_title":null,"og_description":null,"og_object_type":"default","og_image_type":"default","og_image_url":null,"og_image_width":null,"og_image_height":null,"og_image_custom_url":null,"og_image_custom_fields":null,"og_video":"","og_custom_url":null,"og_article_section":null,"og_article_tags":null,"twitter_use_og":false,"twitter_card":"default","twitter_image_type":"default","twitter_image_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_fields":null,"twitter_title":null,"twitter_description":null,"schema":{"blockGraphs":[],"customGraphs":[],"default":{"data":{"Article":[],"Course":[],"Dataset":[],"FAQPage":[],"Movie":[],"Person":[],"Product":[],"ProductReview":[],"Car":[],"Recipe":[],"Service":[],"SoftwareApplication":[],"WebPage":[]},"graphName":"BlogPosting","isEnabled":true},"graphs":[]},"schema_type":"default","schema_type_options":null,"pillar_content":false,"robots_default":true,"robots_noindex":false,"robots_noarchive":false,"robots_nosnippet":false,"robots_nofollow":false,"robots_noimageindex":false,"robots_noodp":false,"robots_notranslate":false,"robots_max_snippet":"-1","robots_max_videopreview":"-1","robots_max_imagepreview":"large","priority":null,"frequency":"default","local_seo":null,"breadcrumb_settings":null,"limit_modified_date":false,"ai":null,"created":"2025-06-20 02:55:18","updated":"2025-09-23 20:34:13","seo_analyzer_scan_date":null,"focus_keyword":"Altun Ha","additional_keywords":null,"truseo_locale":null},"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?cat=19\" title=\"Tourism\">Tourism<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\tBelize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe\n\t\t<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com"},{"label":"Tourism","link":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?cat=19"},{"label":"Belize\u2019s Jade Head: The Maya Treasure You Must See to Believe","link":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=442"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":444,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions\/444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}