Unravel Maya dates and their world with a careful look at how ancient inscriptions were fixed in time.
This edition presents Bowditch’s thoughtful analysis of how dates are counted, what keeps them accurate, and how intercalation and Venus cycles may have shaped long-term calendar corrections. It’s a clear, accessible look at the methods behind the inscriptions, without assuming prior expertise.
- Learn how Maya dates are expressed using multiple methods and why combining them matters for accuracy.
- See how researchers link dates to the rise and fall of cities like Copan, Palenque, and Chichen Itza.
- Understand the idea of intercalation, or adding days, and how different cultures approached calendar corrections.
- Explore how astronomical observations, including Venus cycles, fit into the calendar system.
Ideal for readers of archaeology, ancient calendars, and readers seeking a grounded explanation of how Maya inscriptions are interpreted.