6 March 2019 National Geographic is one of many sources reporting on an exciting new discovery of ritual objects in a cave beneath the Maya site of Chichen…
This parrot is carved in stone near the top of the Great Pyramid at the classic Maya site of Uxmal in the Yucatan. “Uxmal” means thrice-built, but archaeologists…
Named in Spanish El Caracol (the snail) for the spiral staircase inside its tower, the observatory at the Maya-Toltec site of Chichen Itza appears to be oriented toward…
During the fiesta of Santo Tomas (Dec. 21), in Chichicastenango in the Guatemalan highlands, extremely tall pine poles are consecrated and erected in the plaza for the ceremony…
I remember my first arrival in Guatemala, back in the 1970s. I had been studying literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, when I got what seemed to be…
This royal mirror belonged to a ruler of the Maya Snake dynasty. This powerful dynasty controlled much of lowland Mesoamerica, including parts of current Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico during…
Cardamom is the world’s third most expensive spice (after saffron and vanilla). Many people are unaware that, although the plant is native to native to the Himalayas, South…
Maya culture is among the most persistent in the world. People sometimes say things like “The disappearance of Maya civilization remains something of a mystery.” But anyone…
Lately I have been trying to figure out why there is such an extreme strain of misogyny and gynophobia in the United States. A related question, and maybe…
Over at Frisco Vista I recently posted about my new bitters, called Old Tom’s Maximon Mole Bitters. They will definitely spice up a cocktail. So what better time…
This post will be sticky in the “travel” category. To start with, here are some links that might be helpful. For now, many of these utilize the old…
This post will be sticky in the “history” category. To start with, here are some links that might be helpful. For now, many of these utilize the old…
This post will be sticky in the “culture” category. To start with, here are some links that might be helpful. For now, many of these utilize the old…
A team of researchers led by Andrew Somerville of the University of California San Diego, as reported by Cynthia Graber in Scientific American, have produced new evidence that ancient Mesoamericans…
It’s been four years since I’ve posted on this site. During those years I was focused on print projects (I published three books), but now I am renewing…
National Geographic has an interesting quiz on the Maya. It’s fairly challenging — anyway, I got two answers wrong.
I posted this over at rightreading, but I’ll repeat it here, since it pertains to Mesoamerica: When you attempt something ambitious you’re bound to make some mistakes along…
The portion of this painted ceramic drinking vessel that is shown in this image shows a well-turned- jaguarsporting a knotted scarf and a deer antler. He is a…
This photo from Izamal in the Mexican Yucatan comes from larry&flo’s photostream.
This image of the Aztec calendar wheel — also known as the Stone of the Sun — that was excavated in the Zócalo (main square) in Mexico City…
Christine Delsol identifies ten revolutionary Maya foods. Chocolate Vanilla Corn Chiles Tomatoes Black beans Avocado Sweet potato Squash Papaya Pretty good list. Read what she has to say…
Incidents of virtual travel in Mesoamerica. A fine collection of Mexican colonial art : In Davenport, Iowa? San Francisco’s putative Mexican Museum gets $250,000 : Will it ever…
This photo of hanging plants at the Hotel Lunata in Playa del Carmen on the Mayan Riviera comes from theilr’s photostream
Incidents of virtual travel in Mesoamerica and the Maya world Natural Guatemalan Color Palette : It goes with caldos Jade sheds light on Guatemala’s geologic history : I’ts…
I hope to return to more regular blogging soon. We might as well start with our regular feature, Photo Wednesday. This image of hammocks against a bright wall…
This photo of the Caribbean near the ancient Maya city of Tulum is from mdanys’ photostream.
Incidents of virtual travel in Mesoamerica and the Maya world. Ancient Maya practiced forest conservation : Well, duh Conditions not ripe for coup in Guatemala : Analysts say…
In an opinion piece in the Global Post, Mark Schneider argues that the Guatemalan state is in danger of collapsing. This is how he begins: While U.S. attention…
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy A pair of monumental (26-foot) stucco panels have been discovered at the important classic Maya site…