In Maya belief, objects are animated beings who eat, drink, breathe, and have agency. This conch-shell trumpet is enlivened by imagery made visible in two orientations: when viewed …

The Mayan numeral system was the system to represent numbers and calendar dates in the Maya civilization. It was a vigesimal (base-20) positional numeral system . The numerals are …

For the Classic Maya, the conch shell served as a basic symbol of the sea—its spiral form suggests volutes of breath and wind, phenomena closely identified with ocean breezes. As …

Apr 26, 2020 · Some of the most spectacular works of Maya art are carved into precious materials such as bone, shell, and jade. In today’s post, I’m going to share some of the most beautiful …

May 13, 2020 · A new study from scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Center analyzed about 35,000 bone and shell fragments from the Maya city of Ceibal. Sean Mattson, …

Nov 26, 2018 · Having modern specimens to compare with archaeological ones also clarifies why the Maya may have used certain species for specific functions. Many of the now-bleached …

Trumpets were the main instrument a Mayan could produce using a shell. They would cut the apical whorls (whorl near the apex) of large gastropods. Today there have been some recently …

This ornament of blue-green jade is carved into the shape of a spiral-tipped snail shell. The natural model for this jade carving was likely a "tulip-" or "spindle snail," scientifically known as …

Shell was a highly valued material for the ancient Maya, and its use here indicates the original owner of these ornaments was of elite status. Their preservation is notable—in the humid …

May 18, 2020 · This amazingly well-preserved armadillo shell is between 2500 to 2700 years old. While the diet of the elite seemed to be primarily deer and other large vertebrates, many …