ERIC ED457109: AnthroNotes: Museum of Natural History Publication for Educators, Fall 2001.

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Kaupp, P. Ann, Ed.; Selig, Ruth O., Ed.; Brooks, Alison S.,
AUTHOR
Ed.; Lanouette, JoAnne, Ed.
AnthroNotes: Museum of Natural History Publication for
TITLE
Educators, Fall 2001.
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Museum of Natural
INSTITUTION
History.
National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA.
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2001-00-00
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*African Culture; *Ancient History; *Anthropology;
DESCRIPTORS
Elementary Secondary Education; *Maya (People); Social
Science Research; Social Studies
Mayan Art; Multimedia Technology; Smithsonian Institution
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This publication for educators offers in-depth articles on
anthropological research, teaching activities, and reviews of new resources.
The publication aims to disseminate recent research in anthropology; to help
those teaching anthropology use new materials, approaches, and community
resources, as well as integrate anthropology into a variety of curriculum
subjects; and to create a national network of anthropologists,
archaeologists, teachers, and other professionals interested in disseminating
anthropology, particularly in schools. Articles in the publication include:
"The Ancient Maya: New Research on 2000 Years of Development" (Jeremy A.
Sabloff); "Teacher's Corner: Maya Art and Writing" (Beverly Chiarulli);
"Smithsonian Expeditions: A Museum Partnership" (Jane MacLaren Walsh; Tonia
Barringer); "Two New Multimedia Tools for Teaching Archaeology" (Shannon P.
McPherron); and "'African Voices': Smithsonian Project Brings Africa Alive"
(Michael Atwood Mason).
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AnthroNotes: Museum of Natural History Publication for
Educators, Volume 22, No. 3, Fall 2001.
Kaupp, P. Ann, Ed.
Selig, Ruth 0., Ed.
Brooks, Alison S., Ed.
Lanouette, JoAnne, Ed.
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
National Museum of Natural History.
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CON AVAILABLE
EES
IMEYOLF.UM CT NATURAL ill 1101-MMT PUBLIICATECH rya& anucEfroms
VOLUME 22 No.3 FALL 2001
THE AhiCIIENT MAYA:
.NEW RESEARCH ON 2000 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT
by Jeremy A. Sabloff
INTRODUCTION
Salvador. This huge area can be divided into three
geographic zones: the lowlands, the highlands, and
ncient Maya civilization flourished for
the Pacific coastal plain and piedmont. Today, a
lasting from
more than
years,
2,000
wide variety of environments can be found in these
approximately 5_00 B.C. until the 1540s
zones, which do not differ significantly from those
A.D., the time of the Spanish Conquest. The
of more than 2,000
ago. The Maya
years
ancient Maya are renowned for their achievements
exploited
differing
and
successfully
-these
in art, architecture, writing, science, and urban
challenging environments but also had to cope with
planning in the varied and challenging environment
their fragility and the impact of short-term changes
of the greater Yucatan peninsula and neighboring
such as drought, and natural disasters such as
Today, the ancient Maya civilization's
areas.
volcanic eruptions. Ancient Maya civilization
heirs, who number in the millions,
cultural
reached its zenith in the lowlands, especially in the
continue to thrive in modern-day Mexico and
south, but all of the geographic zones played key
Central America.
the growth and flowering
this
of
in
roles
In recent years, path-breaking archaeological,
Pre-Columbian
culture.
complex
fascinating,
ethnohistorical
research
and
epigraphical,
is
Through time, the demographic, economic, and
the
into
new insights
providing
significant
political focus of ancient Maya civilization shifted
development and accomplishments of the ancient
vast and varied
across the landscape of this
Maya. Scholars now understand that the Maya
homeland area.
territory was an integral part of a wider cultural
The beginnings of complexity emerged in the
area known as Mesoamerica, which includes the
Pacific coastal-and piedmont zone. This productive
Maya area and most of MexicO to the north. The
zone, which runs along the entire.southern margin
ancient Maya were not an isolated culture but had
of the Maya area, has relatively high rainfall and a
numerous economic, political, and ideological
variety of fertile agricultural regions. The coastal
interactions with peoples in other parts of Mexico
plain is crosscut by a, large number of small rivers
such as the Gulf Coast lowlands, the Valley of
that flow south from the adjacent highlands. The
Oaxaca, and the Basin of Mexico.
shoreline and widespread rivers offered numerous
trade routes, which the ancient Maya exploited
THREE GEOGRAPHIC ZONES
throughout their history. The low foothills of the
The Maya area
covers 'over
square
300,000
highlands to the north also supported intensive
kilometers that today includes southern Mexico,
cultivation of such key crops as cacao.
Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El
Page 1
SmithsOnian Institution
3
AeoghffeNotio %Awe 22 No 3 llia XXV
Shortly after the beginnings of complexity
as the peak of Maya civilization, namely, the Clasic
emerged along the coastal plain, both the highlands
period in the southern lowlands.
and the lowlands began to develop rapidly: writing
Recent research has shown that the hallmarks of
the highlands and large
first
flourishing
in
the Classic periodwriting, monumental art and
monumental
architecture
the
flourishing
architecture, the corbeled vault, and polychrome
in
lowlands. The lowlands ultimately emerged as the
potterywere all present during Preclassic times.
center of Maya civilization, first in the south and
New research also demonstrates that the Postclassic
later in the north. The highland, Pacific coastal, and
period was not a time of Maya decline after the end
piedmont
important
zones
witnessed
also
of the Classic; other zones besides the southern
lowlands
witnessed
developments throughout the later history of Maya
significant
cultural
civilization. Although the Spanish conquered the
developments as well. Nevertheless, the traditional
whole area, beginning in the
periodization
of
Maya
history
early sixteenth century A.D.,
remains
well
the timing and intensity of
entrenched in both scholarly'
the
Conquest
differed
and to
and popular usage,
within
significantly
and
avoid
confusion,
will
I
among the geographic zones.
continue to use it
in this
article.
However,
EARLY HISTORY
as
I
maintained more than
What became the Maya area
a
was initially occupied soon
is useful to
decade ago, it
after the close of the last Ice
group
traditional
these
periods into three longer
Age, more than ten thousand
years ago. Over the following
without
internal
phases
millennia, small groups of
subdivisions: The Early Phase
hunters
nomadic
and
300 B.C.),
(2000B.C.
The'
(2tot4RApAy
KAV
gatherers utilized the area's
Middle Phase (300 B.C. to
varied
A.D. 1200), and The Late
animal
plant
and
1200 to the
resources, leaving occasional
Phase (A.D.
traces of their short-term occupations in the form
1540s). These period names use more neutral terms
of stone tool fragments. The beginnings of the
than the word "classic," and, I believe, better
domestication of the crucially important maize
correspond to the general developmental trends in
the -ancient Maya world than do the traditional
plant currently can be traced as early as the middle
of the fourth millennium B.C. (3,500 B.C.) with
period scheme. In this paper I will refer to both the
later settled village life based on the productivity
traditional periods, and the longer phases that I
and storage of cultivated plants emerging by the
designate in italics.
second millennium. It is at this time that, the roots
of ancient Maya civilization emerged.
THE EARLY PHASE (2000 B.C.
- 300 B.C.)
The chronology of ancient Maya civilization
This phase includes the Early and Middle Preclassic
traditionally
been
has
periods, the time when scholars can trace the
divided
into three
partsPreclassic, Classic, and Postclassiceach with
of
beginnings
Maya
to
civilization
settled
its own subdivisions. These chronological periods
agricultural villages, which cultivated a number of
were originally formulated to mark significant
productive crops, including maize. The earliest
changes in Maya history, especially what was seen
villages were in the Pacific coastal and piedmont
zone, but the highlands and southern lowlands soon
,
4
Page 2
AmtemNoen *bow 2Z No 3 h7 Mil
produce their own sophisticated writing system
of complex technological,
followed. The -- rise
before the end of the Early Phase. Clearly, what
religious
and
artistic,
political,
economic,
archaeologists generally call "chiefdoms" emerged at
developments,also can be traced to this time period.
this time, as many Maya settlements grew in
Thereafter, growing populations throughout the
cultural complexity, and the roots of Maya cities
Maya area moved into previously unoccupied zones
and states were planted.
and the size of individual farming villages expanded.
,
500 ,B.C.,
increasing
and
Between
1000
THE MIDDLE PHASE (300 B.C.- A.D. 1200)
population together with decreasing lahd available
for settlement and agricultural production led to
This Middle Phase includes the Late Preclassic, the
the Terminal Classic, and the Early
turn
This- in
larger population
aggregations.
Classic,
periods in the
brought with it
administrative
Postclassic
_
developments, more intensive
older It
classification.
is
during this long and critical
forms of agriculture to support
the growing populations, and
phase that Maya civilization
ultimately the emergence of
is widely perceived to have
competition and conflict over
height.
Cities
reached
its
their largest size;
attained
scarcer lands and resources.
their
had
rulers
greatest
The first highly visible signs
artistic,
powers;
and
of change began to appear by
architectural, and scientific
500 B.C., if not earlier, as several
achievements
were
population centers began to
01110441110FV,4101A
relatively rapidly in
extraordinary. The locus of
increase
cultural
widespread
size, and large public buildings
the
during the
upon
burst
developments
at
scene
first period of the Middle
population
centers such
as
Phase was in the highlands
Nakbe, El Mirador, and Tikal in
southern
and
and
and
lowlands,
the
coastal
Pacific
piedmont zones and most
Kaminaljuyil and El Portón in
,
Monumental
the
particularly in the southern highlands. However, in
highlands.
carved stones with depictions of
local rulers also
the southern lowlands, sites such as El Mirador and
first appeared in the highland and coastal zones
Tikal soon rose to prominence.
during this Early Phase. It is evident that rulers
In recent years, scholars have recognized that
many of
the
were able to mobilize considerable labor forces to
of
hallmarks
Maya
"Classic"
civilization were present by the Late Preclassic
and
construct
public
buildings
use
large
monumental sculpture to glorify' and consolidate
period, if not earlier. In particular, the growth of
their economic, political, and religious powers.
urban
political
and dynastic
centers,
states,
rulership can be traced to this time in both the
Moreover, even in these early times, the Maya
already wereinteracting with groups in neighboring
highlands and lowlands. Hieroglyphic inscriptions
with calendric and historical information became
areas, such as the Olmecs from the Gulf Coast and
more widespread in the highland and Pacific coastal
the Zapotecs from' Oaxaca. These interactions led to
and piedmont zones but soon spread into the
trade, as well as the introduction of new ideas and
ideologies. For example, the use of hieroglyphic
lowlands. By the middle of Late Preclassic times,
the people had also begun to utilize the uniquely
writing and calendrics were invented north of the
Maya calendric systemthe Long Countwhich
Maya area in places such as the Valley of Oaxaca.
The Maya built on these early innovations to
was based on a linear calendar that reckoned time
Page 3
5
illlehbvNeen Waeofie 22 Ne 2 Mi Mall
from a start date of 3114 B.C. However, use of
The Maya area was an important player in the
larger Mesoamerican cultural system during the
Long Count dating did not become common in the
Classic period. Cities such as Tikal, Copin, and
lowlands until Classic times. Rulers at El Mirador
Kaminaljuyii had ties to Teotihuac6nthe great city
constructed some of the largest structures that were
in the Basin of Mexicoand elite goods and peoples
ever built in the Maya area, consisting of immense
relatively
over
distances.
moved large
stone platforms supporting huge elite buildings.
Archaeological and epigraphic data indicate that
Toward the end of the Late Preclassic period,
Teotihuacin played an important role in the
the highland and Pacific coastal centers suffered a
political and economic development of Maya
major decline, as did some of the lowland centers
civilization, although the- exact nature of this role
such as.El Mirador, which had had close ties to the
highlands. The reasons for this decline remain
remains unclear and controversial.
unclear. It is at this time that the political and
Recent dramatic advances in the decipherment
of Maya hieroglyphic texts now allow scholars to
economic locus of Maya civilization shifted from
preciate the very complicated political landscape
the highlands to the lowlands. The idea of dynastic
during Classic times in the lowlands and the waxing
rule, which had been present in the highlands, took
and waning of political fortunes of individual cities
root in the lowlands and sboth older sites like Tikal
and relatively newer ones like Copin near the
and ruling dynasties. Important archaeological
research at the great urban centers of Tikal and
southern frontier of the lowlands grew in size and
importance under dynastic political leadership.
Calakmul, for instance, along with new historical
understandings from the texts, have illuminated the
Although some highland sites recovered from their
rivalries between these two cities. Tikal and then
declines at the close of the Late Preclassic period,
Calakmul and then Tikal again gained the upper
they lost their pre-eminence to the lowlands.
hand with either direct or indirect influence over a
number of other lowland centers.
The Classic Period (A.D. 300-800)
In addition, significant ongoing research at
During the
Classic period, Maya civilization
CoOn has been able to tie together dynastic rule,
burgeoned in all geographic zones. Populations at
architectural growth, urban and rural settlement,
older centers increased, while many new cities were
and the ecology of the Copin Valley in a much
founded as the growing numbers of peoples filled in
the landscape. Although there is great scholarly
clearer picture of the city's rise and fall throughout
debate about the population figures, by the
the Classic period. As similar knowledge is gained
beginning of the Late Classic period, the overall
at other Maya cities, scholarly understanding of this
key time period clearly will be significantly
lowland population alone may have exceeded five
million and the larger cities such as Tikal had
strengthened.
populations in the many tens of thousands. The arts
Terminal Classic (A.D. 800-1000) and Early
and architecture thrived; significant achievements in
astronomy and mathematics were made; and an
Postclassic (A.D. 100-1200) Periods
intricate ideological system involving numerous
Toward the close of the eighth century A.D., after
deities with multiple personae evolved. Social
a lengthy
many of the principal cities in
flourisl-iing,
the southern
divisions became exacerbated with a small elite class
lowlands
rapidly
declined in
population and power. From this time on, the
growing in wealth and power and a large peasant
southern lowlands remained relatively
class supplying the food and labor that supported
lightly
populated and drastically less important both
the expanding cities. There is considerable scholarly
politically and economically. The causes of this
debate about whether the non-elite class was further
with
multiple
divided into a series of subclasses as well.
were systemic
and
demise
a possible drought, trade
demographic stress,
Page 4
AgmbroNoggy Vobeeme 22 No 2 hell 200.11
Drought and overpopulation are two of the factors
disruptions, and intercity conflicts all implicated in
often .mentioned in this regard.
this downturn.
However, new research at the great site of
Scholars used to believe that Maya civilization
Chichen Itzi and elsewhere in the north
collapsed in the ninth century A.D., but recent
is
beginning to shed new light on this hitherto
research indicates that this was not the case. First,
enigmatic city and its relations with the Puuc
some southern lowland cities,
especially those
region. This research indicates that Chichen Itzi
located near water trade routes and rich cacao and
military
political
cotton growing areas, continued to thrive while
(including
had
widespread
conquest) and economic influence throughout the
other cities were declining. Second, cities in the
northern lowlands, especially Chichen Itza and
northern lowlands during the Terminal Classic and
into the Early Postclassic period. It may have
others like Uxmal, began to thrive just as many
defeated the cities in the Puuc region, causing their
southern cities were collapsing. Third, a mercantile,
decline, and appears to have had no rivals by the
water-oriented Maya group from the Gulf Coast
Chichen Itzi had
century 'A.D.
lowlandsthe Chontalwho had close economic
early
10th
tremendous religious importance, and its sacred
contacts with many areas of ancient Mesoamerica,
well, or cenote, was a key pilgrimage destination. Its
began to spread their influence at this time in both
the highlands and lowlands. Ultimately they
Chontal
had
perhaps
Maya,
ruler,
close
with
relationships
groups
elsewhere
in
focused their attention on the northern lowlands.
Mesoamerica, especially Central Mexico.
Thus, just as the demographic, pOlitical, and
Most scholars now believe that this major
economic focus of Maya civilization had shifted
from the southern highlands to the southern
political capital was not conquered by the Toltecs
of Central Mexico. The similarities between Toltec
lowlands in the first part of the Middle Phase, so did
Tula and Maya Chichen Itzi likely resulted from
the focus shift again in the later part of the phase,
from the southern to the northern lowlands.
common cultural ties. Sometime toward the close
of the Early Postclassic period, Chichen Itzi
understandings, Maya
to
Contrary
previous
are not fully
declined for reasons that
civilization did not collapse, but continued to
still
understood, and the northern lowlands split into a
prosper, in a different and more restricted area.
number of small political entities.
This new northern florescence can be seen in
such zones as the hilly Puuc region, where densely
packed cities like Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, and Labni
thrived at the end of the Classic period and the first
Dzibilehaltun
half of the Terminal Classic. The indigenous Maya
population of the region grew rapidly at this time,
in the
exploiting the
lands
agricultural
best
northern lowlands. The reasons for the rise of the
Puuc region sites and their relatively brief heyday
Recent research has
have yet to be established.
shown that a few Puuc sites developed much earlier
in the Classic, while my colleagues' and my
Plgiroo Nogroa
A
research at Sayil does not indicate any influx of
I k0
LOWLAIYOS
population from the south at the end of the Classic.
So the connections between the southern decline
and northern florescence were not demographic but
were probably at least in part economic. The causes
of decline of the Puuc sites also are unclear.
Page 5
7
AeogbutpMptin Vohoome 22 M) 3 Fa 2CIVA
(Note: This article is a shortened and revised
THE LATE PHASE (A.D.
1200 - 1540s)
The Late Phase witnessed some important cultural
version of a heavily illustrated chapter published in
shifts in ancient Maya civilization. These included
Maya, edited by Peter Schmidt, Mercedes de la
new emphasis on mercantile activities, changing
Garza, and Enrique Nalda [see the "For Further
urban designs, significantly diminished investments
Reading" section below for bibliographic details].)
by the
ruling
in
labor-intensive
elite
large
architectural projects to glorify themselves and
FOR FURTHER READING
their cities, and innovative forms of political
Culbert. T. Patrick. 1996. Maya Civilization. Exploring the
Ancient World Series, edited by Jeremy A. Sabloff.
control. The latter
best illustrated by the
is
Smithsonian Institution Press.
emergence of an extensive political confederacy led
by the northern lowland center of Maya*, which
Marcus, Joyce 1995. "Where is Lowland Maya Archaeology
was a walled city with a dense population of about
Heading?" Journal of Archaeological Research 3 (1): 3-53.
people within its boundaries. Long-distance,
12,000
Simon Martin
water-borne Trade around the Yucathn peninsula
Nikolai
Grube.
and
"Maya
1995.
gained greater importance with several trading
Superstates." Archaeology 48 (6): 41-47.
centers becoming key nodes in the exchange of bulk
Pohl, Mary D., et. al. 1996. "Early Agriculture in the Maya
goods such as cotton, honey, and salt. In the
Lowlands." Latin American Antiquity 7 (4): 355-72.
highlands, a series of regional centers that had first
emerged toward the end of the Middle Phase gained
Sabloff, Jeremy A. 1985. "Ancient Maya Civilization." In
additional power and prominence. These cities were
Maya: Treasures of an Ancient Civilization. Ed. By C.
still thriving at the 'time of the sixteenth-century
Galenkamp and R.E. Johnson. Harry N. Abrarns, pp. 34-
46.
Spanish Conquest. However, Maya* had declined
by the middle of the fifteenth century and the
Sabloff, Jeremy A. 1990. The New Archaeology and the
political scene throughout the lowlands when the
Ancient Maya. W.H. Freeman.
Spanish arrived was one of small decentralized
polities.
"Ancient Maya Civilization in Space and
. 1998.
Time." In Maya. Ed. by Peter Schmidt, Mercedes de la
Garza, and Enrique Nalda, Bompiani, pp. 52-71.
THE SPANISH CONQUEST
The Spanish Conquest of the Maya area began with
Schele, Linda and David Freidel. 1990. A Forest of Kings: The
the early voyages of Grijalva, HernAndez de
Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. William Morrow and Co.
COrdoba, and Cortes from
and was
1517-1519
Pafts of the area
essentially complete by the
1540s.
Sharer, Robert J. 1994. The Ancient Maya. Fifth edition.
remained unconquered, and some Maya remained
Stanford University Press.
resistant to Spanish and then to Mexican control
even up to modern times. The Spanish Conquest
Jeremy A. Sable is the Williams Director, University
destroyed much of the Maya elite and their cultural
of Pennsylvania Museum and former President of the
practices, and it decimated a significant part of
Society for American Archaeology.
Maya population through introduced diseases such
as measles and smallpox. Military conquest, disease,
and Spanish political control effectively brought an
end to Maya civilization after more than two
thousand years.
Page 6
AmehmNoga Wow 22 No 311471 2Wil
TEACHER'S CORNER:
Even before the Maya used glyphs to report their
history, they decorated their buildings with stucco
MAYA ART AND WRHTENG
facades. Archaeologists can compare the symbols
by Beverly Chiarulli
and carvings found on the facades with those later
used on monuments with glyphs to interpret or
decode what the Mafa were trying to say with the
[Note: Some of the concepts in this lesson are based
facades. In some cases, these interpretations can help
on lessons in Intrigue of the Past A Teacher's A ctiviiy
us understand why the Maya built the buildings and
Guide for Fourth through Seventh Grades, United States
how they used them.,
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land
Management (1993). This Teacher's Corner can be
The Maya also used glyphs along with pictures on
used in science, social studies, and art classes and is
their pottery, in large paintings on the walls of
designed to improve skills in scientific method,
buildings, and on small carved objects like pieces of
synthesizing, and drawing. These lessons will engage
shell or jade. By comparing the pictures and the
students in using strategies such as classification,
glyphs and the style of the painting or carving,
comparison, and interpretation.]
archaeologists and art historians can sometimes
identify individual Maya artists or different versions
Vocabulary
of the same scene. Through our studies of Maya art
Glyph: Shortened versiOn of hieroglyph. In Maya
and writing, we can better understand how the Maya
writing, glyphs are more often equivalent to short
lived in their ancient cities.
syllables than single letters.
Pictograph: A sign that pictures a real thing.
Through the
students will
below,
activities
Iconograph: A stylized ,symbol of a "real thing"
eXperience how archaeologists use artifacts, art and
used in a drawing or painting.
writing to increase our understanding of Maya
Stela: A free-standing monument, either carved or
civilization.
plain; often paired with "altars" or large round flat
stones in Maya sites.
Exercise 1:
Stucco facade: Wet plaster, which could be carved
Materials needed:
or molded, used as building decoration. A façade is
.
o A copy of the 16ya syllabary for each
the front side of a building.
student. These are available in several books
Syllabary: A set of symbols used for syllables. Maya
such as Michael Coe's Breaking the Maya Code
writing is composed of combinations of syllables
or on-the internet. (A useful version is at
rather than letters. The syllabary provides a
http://www.halfmoon.org/syllabary.html,
comparison of the symbols to combinations of
along with directions for using the syllabary
letters.
to write names.)
INTRODUCTION
oA piece of paper for each student and
Maya art is found on almost everything made and
colored markers, pencils, or paint.
used by the Maya and in every material with which
they worked. Recent advances in the decipherment
1. Our writing system uses letters representing
of Maya glyphs have shown that many of the glyphs,
individual sounds that are combined into words. The
paintings, and sculptures provide historical records
Maya writing system is different in that words are
of Maya kings and their interactions with each other.
divided into syllables. Symbols are used to represent
One of the ways that archaeologists first were able
these syllables. In English, we occasionally use a
to translate these glyphs was by comparing date
single symbol or "letter" to represent a syllable, like
glyphs with symbols that seemed to be the names of
when we use "a" as a word as in "a horse." For
ites. Other glyphs that are often seen on stela or
students to write their names using Maya glyphs, they
stone monuments are those that stand for the,
must first break their names into syllables:
accession of a king, the performance of a ritual, or
Kate = "ka" + "te"
the capture of a rival king or lord.
Page 7
AffighffeNameg Wow 22 No 3 MI 2M111
Some names are more difficult, because you must
add an imaginary or silent letter:
Jon = "jo" + "ne"
Some names include sounds that are not found in
Maya languages, like "r." You can use the syllabary to
find a substitute or you may leave that letter out of
your translation, as shown in my name:
Beverly = "be" + "ye" + "li"
"%ear
,
2. Have each student break his or name into
X14
syllables.
P.H4tal
..olftrA fti&-;411414-
3. Have the students match the syllables from their
Bnim<IN61 -me tiACIA3A A CODE...°
name's to the syllabary.
4. The syllables are then combined into blocks to
form word glyphs. Examples of word arrangements
products. As a comparison, students could be asked
to consider how symbols have changed through time.
are:
Have the students look at a dollar bill, identify the
symbols, and then explain the meaning of the
ka
ye
symbols. There are probably several symbols that
be
ne
te
II
cannot be interpreted, like the "pyramid with the
eye."
Have the.students use glyphs from the syllabary to
replace the English syllables in their own name in
2. Give each student (or group of students) a piece of
blocks on a sheet of paper.
paper, or one of the flowerpots. Ask them to create a
symbol of their culture or something important in
Exercise 2:
their lives. Have them draw the symbol on the piece
Materials needed:
of paper or on the flowerpot.
o A picture or transparency of a Maya pot or
mural showing a painted scene and glyphs. (A
3. Ask groups of students to look at a picture from a
Maya pot or painting. Have the students identify
good source of pictures of painted Maya pottery
is the Foundation for Mesoamerican Studies
glyphs and iconographs in the picture.
Maya vase database websitehttP/www.faMsi.
org/mayavase.)
4. Have the student groups look at the information
that is contained in the Maya picture about the Maya
life and environment. Ask them to answer the
o A piece of paper, a small flower pot, or a piece
of clay for each student and a marker or paint
following questions about the picture:
and paintbrush.
a. What kinds of clothes are the Maya wearing?
0 Colored index cards or pieces of colored paper.
What does their style of dress tell you about their
environment?
Brainstorm examPles of symbols that
are
1.
meaningful to us today. You might start the
b. Does the picture tell you anything about the
discussion by providing examples of symbols on
natural environment? Do you see any of the
plants or animals that might have been important
to the Maya?
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