Nim Li Punit (“Big Hat”) is a medium-sized Maya city in southern Belize, active during the Classic Period (ca. AD 400–800), with peak activity between AD 721 and 790. The name refers to a carved stela showing a ruler with a large headdress.
The site includes three plazas, step pyramids, and an E-Group likely used for astronomical observations. A total of 25 stelae have been found, some with hieroglyphic dates.
At its height, the city had around 5,000–7,000 inhabitants and prospered through obsidian trade and fertile agriculture. It was suddenly abandoned in the 9th century, likely due to environmental stress or broader Maya societal collapse1.