Nim Li Punit is an ancient Mayan pre- Columbian archaeological site situated in Belize. It is a fairly large settlement. However it was discovered in 1976 and few exploration were taken of this ancient city. Nevertheless scientists uncovered several impressive temples, a ball court, several Stelae with intricate reliefs and many other religious and civil buildings. It appears that during Classic Period Nim Li Punit was an important city with a large population.
The ancient city of Nim Li Punit was laid out in a
fashion consistent with other Mayan lowland Classic Era sites, such
as Lubaantun, Pusilha and Uxbenka; the latter two of these sites are
deemed to have arisen earlier than the former two. Nim Li Punit is
constructed in the Classic Period prototypical geometric form, using
large amounts of fill material to achieve expansive level plazas and
terraces; furthermore, the arrangement of the major structures
emulates the view of the Mayan cosmological world, setting the earth
realm at the core, manifested by a dwelling of the ruler. The sky
world is exhibited characteristically in the north by shrines and
burial structures. The location of the ballcourt is intermediary,
illustrating the position of this activity to represent perpetual
conflict between the forces of life and death. The ballcourt is so
well preserved, it appears ready to host a game.
It is
thought that within the Plaza of the Stela in the South Group that
there is an E Group geometry that would have been used for
astronomical observations. For example, several monuments present
before a long terrace known as Structure One, which mark the
location of solstices and equinoxes. Unlike Lubaantun, where
dry-stone construction was employed, the stone structures are
cemented with Mayan mortar; moreover, the elaborate notched jointing
often found in Lubaantun is absent in Nim Li Punit.