Lectures focus on Maya period
Kelly Davis
Issue date: 9/30/05 Section: International
As part of the Mexico Semester, Dr. Christopher Powell and Dr. Edwin Barnhart, directors of the Maya Exploration Center in Mexico, gave five lectures over the course of three days to students at Missouri Southern focusing on the ancient Maya culture.
Powell, an archaeologist with more than 20 years experience, gave the first lecture, "Maya History: Culture Origins to Spanish Conquest," on Sept. 21. This lecture was the foundation for the four subsequent lectures, giving a background of the Maya culture.
Beginning with the Olmecs, precursors of the Maya, Powell gave an overview of what researchers currently know about the Olmecs, who lived between the years of 1,800-300 B.C. There are few skeletal remains due to the acidity of the soil.
"They exploded onto the scene almost fully developed," Powell said, citing examples of sophisticated art forms and elaborate trade routes throughout the region. Their artwork, most of which was carved in jade, was described by Powell as "very realistic," and sometimes weighed more than 30 tons. Many depicted different phenotypes, or ethnicities. This lead researchers to believe groups of cultures may have worked together. Other Olmec artwork was carved in basalt or black stone, and included many "Negroid" and "Asian-looking" portraiture.
Powell described them as the "finest examples of portraiture in Mesoamerica."
The Mayan calendar also began with the Olmecs, and researchers have found toys with working wheels and axles.
During the Classic Maya Period, beginning circa 250 A.D., Tecal was the most powerful site of the Maya realm. Powell said there was a cultural explosion sometime close to 378 A.D., featuring carved jade, mosaics, funerary masks and ceramics. One of the earliest screw-top jars known to exist was also found from this time. The Maya were also masters of cotton clothing and embroidery. "Elaborate murals" and "monumental carved stone art" were also found from this time period.
"Maya Calendar Systems" was the second lecture in the series, given by Barnhart. Barnhart said during the lecture the Maya had the "most sophisticated time recording of ancient civilizations." They were able to accurately track the years, and were only 1/10,000 of our modern best. Barnhart said their year was 365.2420 days, while our most accurate count is 365.2422 days.
Powell, an archaeologist with more than 20 years experience, gave the first lecture, "Maya History: Culture Origins to Spanish Conquest," on Sept. 21. This lecture was the foundation for the four subsequent lectures, giving a background of the Maya culture.
Beginning with the Olmecs, precursors of the Maya, Powell gave an overview of what researchers currently know about the Olmecs, who lived between the years of 1,800-300 B.C. There are few skeletal remains due to the acidity of the soil.
"They exploded onto the scene almost fully developed," Powell said, citing examples of sophisticated art forms and elaborate trade routes throughout the region. Their artwork, most of which was carved in jade, was described by Powell as "very realistic," and sometimes weighed more than 30 tons. Many depicted different phenotypes, or ethnicities. This lead researchers to believe groups of cultures may have worked together. Other Olmec artwork was carved in basalt or black stone, and included many "Negroid" and "Asian-looking" portraiture.
Powell described them as the "finest examples of portraiture in Mesoamerica."
The Mayan calendar also began with the Olmecs, and researchers have found toys with working wheels and axles.
During the Classic Maya Period, beginning circa 250 A.D., Tecal was the most powerful site of the Maya realm. Powell said there was a cultural explosion sometime close to 378 A.D., featuring carved jade, mosaics, funerary masks and ceramics. One of the earliest screw-top jars known to exist was also found from this time. The Maya were also masters of cotton clothing and embroidery. "Elaborate murals" and "monumental carved stone art" were also found from this time period.
"Maya Calendar Systems" was the second lecture in the series, given by Barnhart. Barnhart said during the lecture the Maya had the "most sophisticated time recording of ancient civilizations." They were able to accurately track the years, and were only 1/10,000 of our modern best. Barnhart said their year was 365.2420 days, while our most accurate count is 365.2422 days.