Location: Toledo District Map
Pusilha is an ancient Mayan pre- Columbian archaeological site situated in Toledo District of Belize. It was occupied between 570AD and circa 800AD. Getting to Pusilha is a difficult one. You would have to travel gravel roads, cross river and venture through the jungle. Although the site was discovered by archaeologists it remains unexplored. Over 100 various mounds that were constructed at the heyday of Pusilha none were cleared from jungles. Nevertheless you can guess an impressive size of the abandoned city.
Pusilhá has a series of confirmed occupation date. It is known through ceramic analysis that this site is dateable to the late classic. A stelae found on site indicates a late classic occupation. According to Braswell, the current excavator of the site, "Stela P begins with the initial series date of 9.7.0.0.0 and contains a historical retrospective date of 9.6.17.8.18 (A.D. 570), implying that the kingdom was founded shortly before the beginning of the Late Classic period". He does state that excavations from surrounding residential areas away from the complexes center seem to indicate an early classic occupation but additional excavation is required to confirm this for the rest of the site. Transitions in ceramics, burials and construction coupled with the usual cessation of inscriptions on stelae indicate continued occupation at Pusilhá through to the post classic. The last official date, which is a calendar round date, occurs at 9.18.7.10.3, or A. D. 798.