All articles tagged with #mayan civilization
New research reveals that the ancient Mayans used a sophisticated system of overlapping lunar calendars, based on their 260-day divinatory calendar, to predict solar eclipses with remarkable accuracy over centuries, by aligning their lunar and eclipse prediction tables through precise mathematical modeling.
Researchers analyzed stalagmites from a Yucatán cave to uncover detailed climate data, revealing that prolonged droughts between 871 and 1021 CE contributed significantly to the collapse of the Mayan civilization during the Terminal Classic period, with evidence suggesting that climate stress played a key role in societal decline.
Archaeologists in Guatemala have discovered the 3,000-year-old Mayan city 'Los Abuelos', featuring pyramids, monuments, and advanced hydraulic infrastructure, shedding new light on early Mayan civilization and its ceremonial centers.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,000-year-old Mayan city called Los Abuelos in Guatemala's Petén jungle, revealing sophisticated urban planning, ancestral worship practices, and a new understanding of early Mesoamerican civilization, including a unique urban triangle that suggests complex sociopolitical organization earlier than previously thought.
Archaeologists have discovered a nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city called 'Los Abuelos' in northern Guatemala's Peten region, featuring pyramids, monuments, and a unique canal system, shedding new light on the ancient civilization's ceremonial and socio-political organization.
An ancient stone marker used in a Mayan ballgame was discovered at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The intricately carved circular piece displays hieroglyphic writings around two players at its center standing next to a ball. The stone is believed to date back to the 11th century and is the first discovery in over 11 years of an object with hieroglyphic writing at Chichén Itzá. The Mayan ballgame dates back over 3,000 years and is considered one of the first organized sporting games.
Archaeologists in Mexico have discovered a 1,000-year-old stone scoreboard used in the Mayan 'pelota' game, which was played with a ball containing the ashes of dead rulers. The carved, circular stone was found in the Mayan Chichén Itzá archaeological site and displays hieroglyphic writing surrounding two players standing next to a ball. The artifact, named the 'Disk of the Pelota Players', is inscribed with a reference to a date in the Mayan calendar that is equivalent to the year 894 AD. The game is thought to have been played for ceremonial purposes, possibly commemorating important members of society.
Archaeologists have discovered a stone scoreboard at the Chichen Itza archaeological site in Mexico's Yucatan, which displays Mayan hieroglyphic writing surrounding two players standing next to a ball. The piece dates from between A.D. 800 and 900 and weighs around 90 pounds. The discovery could provide new information on pre-Columbian Mayan society. The Chichen Itza complex has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the main archaeological centers of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Archaeologists have discovered a stone scoreboard used in an ancient soccer-like ball game at the Mayan Chichen Itza archaeological site in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. The circular piece, believed to date from between 800 AD and 900 AD, displays hieroglyphic writing surrounding two players standing next to a ball. The ball game was a traditional practice of Mesoamerican peoples and is believed to have had ritual undertones. The Chichen Itza complex is one of the main archaeological centers of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Avoid the crowds at popular Mexican ruins like Chichén Itzá and Tulum by visiting lesser-known sites like Cobá, Ek Balam, Mayapán, Edzná, Calakmul, Yaxchilán, Cañada de la Virgen, and Guachimontones. These sites offer a chance to explore the Mayan civilization without the crowds and with a sense of serenity. Some of these sites are located in remote areas and require a bit of effort to reach, but the experience is worth it.