( CNN ) -- The deputy prime minister of Belize is calling for full prosecution of those responsible for destroying a 2,300-year-old Mayan pyramid to turn it into rock for roads . `` All those found responsible for the destruction of this site should be persecuted to the full extent of the law , '' read a statement from the office of Gaspar Vega , who is also the representative for the Orange Walk area in northern Belize where the Noh Mul pyramid was destroyed last week . Only a small chunk of the pyramid , which stood about 65 feet tall and was the center of a settlement of about 40,000 people in 250 B.C. , remains after backhoes and bulldozers began removing the limestone slabs with which it was built last week . The pyramid stood on private land . The limestone is favored for building roads in the area , and the local chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association alleged in a statement that local government officials have been complicit in the destruction of ancient sites like Noh Mul . `` Noh Mul had been one of the ancient monuments with the greatest tourism development potential in northern Belize , '' the association said . `` Unfortunately , such progress has been severely hampered due to the ignorance and greed of certain individuals . '' `` More sites have been destroyed in Orange Walk by the Ministry of Works and others for road fill material than in any other part of the country , '' the association said it was told by an unnamed senior government official . In his statement , Vega denied any involvement . `` Minister Vega also emphatically repudiates the allegation and or perception that he was involved in any way with the destruction of the Noh Mul , '' the statement read . In a separate statement , Belize 's Ministry of Tourism & Culture said it had commissioned a full investigation of the Noh Mul destruction , calling it `` callous , ignorant and unforgivable . '' `` Cultural landmarks such as Noh Mul are sacred artifacts of Belizean history and should be protected at all costs . This expressed disdain for our laws and policies is incomprehensible , '' the ministry statement said . Archeologists had similar words for what happened to the pyramid . `` This is one of the worst that I have seen in my entire 25 years of archaeology in Belize , '' John Morris , an archaeologist with the country 's Institute of Archaeology , told local channel 7NewsBelize . `` We ca n't salvage what has happened out here -- it is an incredible display of ignorance . '' The institute 's director , Jaime Awe , called the destruction `` one of the worse set of blows I have felt philosophically and professionally . '' Archaeologists said they would ask police to take action against both the landowner and contractor , according to local media reports . `` It is against the law ; it is against the nature act to willfully destroy an ancient monument , '' Awe told News5 in Belize . `` Any willful destruction of an ancient site or monument has penalties of 10 years ' imprisonment or $ 10,000 for this kind of destruction . ''
2,300-year - old Mayan ruins ripped up for land fill . Tourism department alleges involvement by government officials . Tourism and cultural ministy says full investigation underway .