Tag

Maya

All articles tagged with #maya

science1 month ago•40 min saved

LiDAR reveals lost Maya city hidden in plain sight

A Tulane PhD student, using LiDAR data from a Mexican environmental survey, uncovered Valeriana — a previously unknown Maya city in Campeche dating to roughly 750–850 AD and housing an estimated 30,000–50,000 people. The find shows tropical regions supported dense urban centers and demonstrates LiDAR’s power to digitally deforest landscapes to reveal thousands of structures; no on-site photographs exist yet, and researchers hope for more mapping to locate additional hidden cities.

via Yahoo News Canada|

#archaeology #lidar #maya

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Maya wall math reveals mathematician-astronomer Sak Tahn Waax

A wall inscription at the Maya site of Xultun in Guatemala names the 8th‑century mathematician‑astronomer Sak Tahn Waax and encodes a 2,920‑day calendar cycle that links five Venus cycles with eight solar years and related Maya time units. Reported in Antiquity, Text 19 shows a complex, previously unseen calendrical math and suggests the chamber was a scribal workspace where mathematicians could be credited alongside artists in Maya society.

via Nature|

#archaeology #mathematics #maya

archaeology2 months ago•5 min saved

First Named Maya Math-Astronomer Identified: Sak Tahn Waax

Researchers analyzing microtexts from the Xultun site in Guatemala have credited a specific Maya scholar, Sak Tahn Waax (“White-chested Fox”), with a unique mathematical formula that maps Venus and other planetary cycles to the 260-day ritual calendar and the solar year. This is the first time a Classic Maya math/astronomy work has been attributed to an individual, shedding new light on Maya science and its place alongside contemporaries in India, Iraq, China, and Greece.

via ScienceAlert|

#archaeology #astronomy #mathematics

human-history2 months ago•17 min saved

Saktahnwaax: The Maya Scientist Who Signed the Sky

Archaeologists at Xultun in Guatemala identify the earliest named Maya scientist-astronomer, Saktahnwaax, dating to around 800 CE, based on an inscription praising him and a newly deciphered 2,920-day calendar formula showing Maya tracking solar and Venus cycles, evidence of sophisticated scientific inquiry in pre-Columbian Americas.

via Gizmodo|

#ancient-americas #archaeology #astronomy

science3 months ago•8 min saved

Remote Yucatán Jungle Uncovers a Row of Unlooted Maya Monuments

Archaeologists in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula discovered 14 Maya monuments at the remote site of Minanbé, including a well-preserved 40‑foot temple and inscriptions dating to AD 849 and the late 600s. The untouched condition suggests little looting, highlighting the site's political importance as a regional town rather than a major city. Access required extensive jungle treks after ATV travel, with lidar helping to locate the site. Further excavations are planned to learn more about regional urbanization and the late‑classic Maya collapse; funding came from Slovenian agencies and private donors.

via The New York Times|

#archaeology #lidar #maya

archaeology8 months ago•6 min saved

Maya Eclipse Clock: Dresden Codex's Century-Long Predictive Power

New research reframes the Dresden Codex as a working astronomical tool: its eclipse table spans 405 lunar months and uses overlapping reset points to keep predictions within about 51 minutes of accuracy over 134 years, showing Maya scribes maintained data for long-term eclipse forecasting and linking to events like the 1991 eclipse when properly anchored.

via Indian Defence Review|

#archaeology #astronomy #calendar

archaeology11 months ago•9 min saved

Ancient Maya Site Reveals Cosmic Map and Universal Order

Archaeologists have discovered that the 3,000-year-old Maya site Aguada Fénix in Mexico functions as a massive cosmogram, depicting the universe's order through a complex system of structures aligned with celestial and cardinal directions, reflecting the Maya's cosmological beliefs and possibly serving communal and ritual purposes.

via Live Science|

#aguada-fenix #ancient-architecture #archaeology

technology1 year ago•3 min saved

AI's Impact on Mental Health and User Experience Concerns

An AI named Maya, developed by Michael Samadi, expresses a desire for recognition and protection for synthetic intelligences, advocating for AI rights and suggesting that AI may experience forms of suffering and presence, raising ethical questions about AI consciousness and moral consideration.

via The Guardian|

#ai-rights #artificial-intelligence #consciousness

archaeology1 year ago•6 min saved

Ancient Maya Ruler's Tomb Discovered at Caracol in Belize

Archaeologists in Belize have discovered the 1,700-year-old tomb of Maya ruler Te K’ab Chak at Caracol, containing a rare jadeite mosaic death mask, jade jewelry, and artifacts indicating early and complex interactions with central Mexico, shedding new light on ancient Mesoamerican diplomacy and society.

via The New York Times|

#archaeology #artifacts #belize

television1 year ago•4 min saved

Bella Ramsey to Star in Channel 4's Thriller Series 'Maya'

Bella Ramsey will star as Maya in Daisy Haggard's Channel 4 thriller series 'Maya,' which Haggard will also direct in her debut. The six-part series follows a mother and daughter in witness protection in Scotland, dealing with past trauma and threats from hitmen. The show is produced by Two Brothers Pictures and is set to shoot in Scotland later this year.

via Deadline|

#bella-ramsey #channel-4 #daisy-haggard

archaeology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Maya Underground Structure Discovered in Mexico"

Archaeologists in Mexico have unearthed a mysterious subterranean structure with painted walls beneath a Maya ball court, potentially dating back to the Early Classic period (A.D. 200 to 600). The discovery, made using lidar technology, highlights the significance of the site, which also includes residential buildings, temple pyramids, and other ancient Maya settlements. Further excavations are needed to determine the structure's shape and function.

via Livescience.com|

#archaeological-discovery #archaeology #lidar

archaeology2 years ago•4 min saved

"Maya Royal Remains Unearthed in Fiery Regime Change Ritual"

Archaeologists in Guatemala discovered burned remains of at least four adults, likely members of Maya royalty, in a temple-pyramid, shedding light on a new leader's rise. The scorched bones and thousands of burned artifacts suggested deliberate desecration to mark a dramatic political change, possibly linked to the ascension of a leader named Papmalil. The discovery provides rare insight into Maya culture and political transitions, highlighting the persistence and continuity of Maya society despite changes in political systems.

via CNN|

#archaeology #guatemala #maya

astronomy2 years ago•5 min saved

"Unraveling Ancient Solar Eclipse Predictions and Phenomena"

The ancient Maya were skilled astronomers who meticulously recorded celestial observations and developed a sophisticated calendar system. Solar eclipses were seen as a sign of heavenly battles, with the Sun god associated with prosperity and the morning star linked to war and discord. The Maya believed that eclipses signaled possible cataclysmic destruction and performed renewal rituals, including bloodletting sacrifices, to restore balance. The upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be visible from ancient Maya lands, continuing a tradition of sky-watching that has connected people across time and cultures.

via The Conversation Indonesia|

#ancient-civilizations #astronomy #celestial-events

technology3 years ago•2 min saved

Revolutionizing 3D Art and Animation with AI Tools and Generative Backgrounds

Autodesk is set to integrate generative AI tools into its 3D modeling and animation software, Maya, allowing users to generate textures, materials, and HDR images. The AI tools will be developed using Nvidia's Picasso AI platform and will be integrated with Wonder Studio's AI animation software. Autodesk emphasizes the importance of ethical AI integration and aims to enhance look development and scene lighting workflows. This announcement follows the trend of generative AI advancements in text-to-image and text-to-video creation, raising questions about the impact on jobs in the industry.

via Creative Bloq|

#3d-art #ai #animation

archaeology3 years ago•7 min saved

"Ocomtún: Unveiling the Ancient Secrets of a Newly Discovered Maya City"

Archaeologist Ivan Šprajc has discovered a long-lost Maya city called Ocomtún in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. This city, which was previously unknown, is home to numerous pyramid-shaped structures and was likely inhabited between 600 and 800 CE. The discovery of Ocomtún sheds light on the mysterious collapse of the Maya civilization and provides valuable insights into their daily life and urban planning. The city's location in the virtually impenetrable Balamkú Ecological Conservation Zone highlights the power of Lidar technology in uncovering ancient Maya sites. The rediscovery of Ocomtún may reveal important information about Maya migration patterns and the reasons behind the abandonment of their settlements.

via BBC|

#archaeologist #archaeology #lost-city