Maya Calendar Origins

Abstract

List of Figures and Tables Note on Orthography and Dates Preface Acknowledgments1. IntroductionPopol Vuh, a Maya Creation Myth Time and Preclassic Mesoamerica Chiefdoms and Cycles The Early Maya and the Isthmian Region2. In the Beginning: Early Mesoamerican PrehistoryEarly Occupation: The Paleoindian or Lithic Stage The Archaic Stage The Archaic-to-Formative Transition The Early Mesoamerican Tradition Discussion3. Mesoamerican Calendrics: Time and Its RecordingThe 260-day Calendar The 360- and 365-day Calendars The Long Count and the May Origins of the Mesoamerican Calendars Recording Time Discussion4. Maya Calendar Developments in Broader ContextOriginally Thirteen Months? Beginnings and Endings The Months and the Day Names: A Derivational Model Calendrical Origins and the Popol Vuh5. Middle and Late Preclassic: The Gulf Coast Olmec and Epi-OlmecArchitectural Patterns Monuments, Iconography, and Themes Discussion: Calendrical Implications The Epi-Olmec Discussion6. Late Preclassic: Izapa and KaminaljuyuIzapa, Chiapas Kaminaljuyu and Related Sites Discussion: Calendrical Implications7. The Early Maya Lowlands: Origins and SettlementsOrigin Myths Archaeology: The Earliest Lowland Settlers and Their Languages Archaeology and Architecture Archaeology and Exchange Discussion8. Early Lowland Maya Intellectual Culture: Writing, Stelae, and GovernmentWriting Systems The Stela Cult and Calendrics Ties to the Isthmus Leadership, Politics, and Government9. The Materialization and Politicization of TimeDevelopment of the Calendars The Popol Vuh and Calendars Pilgrimages and Tollans Cycling: Chiefly and Calendrical Maya Calendars: Order, Legitimacy, and WealthNotes References Cited Index