Post by Kiahanie on Oct 21, 2013 13:23:28 GMT -6
My archeological specialties are Mesoamerica (with heavy emphasis on the Maya) and Southwestern United States, so once in a while I'll be providing some info on New World archeology.
New Evidence Unearthed for the Origins of the Maya
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Civilizations rise and fall, often in dramatic fashion. Their origins, though, are subtler and tend to be overlooked or poorly understood.
In the case of the Maya, a new paper in Science magazine sheds surprising light on that murky early period.
The classic period of the lowland Maya in Mesoamerica (A.D. 300 to 950) is a popular topic in archaeology, but little is known about the early preclassic era (before 1000 B.C.). Scientists are typically split between two theories on the subject: Either the Maya developed directly from an older "mother culture" known as the Olmec, or they sprang into existence independently.
Takeshi Inomata, professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona and a National Geographic research grantee, disagrees with both theories. In his work at the archaeological site of Ceibal in Guatemala, he has unearthed evidence for a more complex origin story.
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Very good article. Those who have a Science Magazine subscription will probably enjoy the original paper.
New Evidence Unearthed for the Origins of the Maya
"
Civilizations rise and fall, often in dramatic fashion. Their origins, though, are subtler and tend to be overlooked or poorly understood.
In the case of the Maya, a new paper in Science magazine sheds surprising light on that murky early period.
The classic period of the lowland Maya in Mesoamerica (A.D. 300 to 950) is a popular topic in archaeology, but little is known about the early preclassic era (before 1000 B.C.). Scientists are typically split between two theories on the subject: Either the Maya developed directly from an older "mother culture" known as the Olmec, or they sprang into existence independently.
Takeshi Inomata, professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona and a National Geographic research grantee, disagrees with both theories. In his work at the archaeological site of Ceibal in Guatemala, he has unearthed evidence for a more complex origin story.
"
--National Geographic Daily News
Very good article. Those who have a Science Magazine subscription will probably enjoy the original paper.
