The Mayan pendant is an artifact from the Mayan culture which was discovered in situ within a tomb which had been undisturbed. There were no human remains in the tomb so what was the Mayan pendant and what was it doing there. (SD: Puzzle of the Maya pendant)
The jade once belonging to an ancient Maya king is inscribed with 30 hieroglyphs. It was used during important religious ceremonies.
Credit: Courtesy G. Braswell/UC San Diego
Also important: The pendant was "not torn out of history by looters," said Braswell. "To find it on a legal expedition, in context, gives us information about the site and the jewel that we couldn't have otherwise had or maybe even imagined."
- SD
As the Anthropologist, your task is to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out all there is to know about the pendant.
"A recent theory is that climate change caused droughts that led to the widespread failure of agriculture and the collapse of Maya civilization," Braswell said. "The dedication of this tomb at that time of crisis to the wind god who brings the annual rains lends support to this theory, and should remind us all about the danger of climate change."
- SD
Braswell really doesn't know for sure the purpose the pendant served but tries to deduce it and welcome to Anthropology. The speculation gets highly creative too.
It could be that king Janaab' Ohl K'inich himself moved to Nim Li Punit, Braswell said. Or it could be that a great Maya state was trying to ally with the provinces, expand its power or curry favor by presenting a local king with the jewel. Either way, Braswell believes, the writing on the pendant indicates ties that had been previously unknown.
- SD
Student: I will have to learn to read the hieroglyphics?
Well, if you will hang out with Braswell, you probably do. Dig them a little bit, tho, since all of those symbols have serious meaning to rational adults so what is that meaning. It feels a little bit like a pre-Columbian Rorschach test but make of it what you will and the interested student is advised ...
Student: read the article?
Yep
Maybe my favorite:
He looks like some kind of deranged cartoon face.
Note to Mystery Lady: I thought you might dig this one for art and jewelry in the ancient world in a piece fit for a king. Well, well!
The jade once belonging to an ancient Maya king is inscribed with 30 hieroglyphs. It was used during important religious ceremonies.
Credit: Courtesy G. Braswell/UC San Diego
Also important: The pendant was "not torn out of history by looters," said Braswell. "To find it on a legal expedition, in context, gives us information about the site and the jewel that we couldn't have otherwise had or maybe even imagined."
- SD
As the Anthropologist, your task is to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out all there is to know about the pendant.
"A recent theory is that climate change caused droughts that led to the widespread failure of agriculture and the collapse of Maya civilization," Braswell said. "The dedication of this tomb at that time of crisis to the wind god who brings the annual rains lends support to this theory, and should remind us all about the danger of climate change."
- SD
Braswell really doesn't know for sure the purpose the pendant served but tries to deduce it and welcome to Anthropology. The speculation gets highly creative too.
It could be that king Janaab' Ohl K'inich himself moved to Nim Li Punit, Braswell said. Or it could be that a great Maya state was trying to ally with the provinces, expand its power or curry favor by presenting a local king with the jewel. Either way, Braswell believes, the writing on the pendant indicates ties that had been previously unknown.
- SD
Student: I will have to learn to read the hieroglyphics?
Well, if you will hang out with Braswell, you probably do. Dig them a little bit, tho, since all of those symbols have serious meaning to rational adults so what is that meaning. It feels a little bit like a pre-Columbian Rorschach test but make of it what you will and the interested student is advised ...
Student: read the article?
Yep
Maybe my favorite:
He looks like some kind of deranged cartoon face.
Note to Mystery Lady: I thought you might dig this one for art and jewelry in the ancient world in a piece fit for a king. Well, well!
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