Cuello is very near to Orangewalk Town and is easily reached via a dirt road by car or taxi. Because the area around Cuello is extensively farmed and the site actually sits within a cattle pasture, the site has remained overgrown to protect it until funding and interest can further develop and protect the site.

We hiked up a short distance to encounter the cattle and then onto the Caribe-style caretaker's house that was occupied by an accomodating chap who talked with us for a while about the middle pre-classic Maya site of CUELLO...

This site, named after the people who own the land where it lays, is one of the most important discoveries for the study of the Maya. It may not look like much, being only a small ceremonial center, but it is the oldest Mayan site recorded and that alone makes it worthy of attention.

The occupation of Cuello began around 2500 B.C. making it one of the oldest known Mayan sites. It continued until 500 AD when it was deserted for unknown reasons.

This ceremonial center, right in the middle of a cow pasture, consists of two plazas. Each of these plazas has a temple, palace, and civic center. Cuello even has buildings from the classic era, but not a lot of emphasis is put on them because the older ruins have more of an archaeological significance. Burials have also been unearthed with a collection of pottery from the pre-classic and formative period. There is also evidence of some destruction of ceremonial centers by fire.

Outside the local residents, our project director at Nohmul, Norman Hammond first noticed Cuello in 1973. At that time the Cuello Brother Distillery reported the bulldozing of mounds on their land and the Archaeological Commissioner, Joseph Palacio, then formally registered the site. Using carbon dating, Hammond determined between 1978 and 1980 that the date of this settlement was between 1500 and 2500 BC. Before this, the earliest date for the beginning of the Mayan Culture had been thought to be around 1500 BC .