News

Dr. David Stuart recognized with UNESCO Medal

Dr. David Stuart has been awarded a UNESCO medal for his lifetime contributions to the study of ancient Maya culture and archaeological sites, including those which have been categorized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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The Mesoamerica Center welcomes Dr. Astrid Runggaldier

Dr. Astrid Runggaldier joins the Department of Art and Art History this fall as a Senior Lecturer with a teaching focus on Mesoamerican cultures. Through the Mesoamerica Center, she will lead the courses of UT’s semester-long Study Abroad program at Casa Herrera in Antigua, Guatemala.

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Lienzo de Quauhquechollan Exhibition

Lienzo de Quauhquecholla

The Mesoamerica Center is proud to present 
The Lienzo de Quauhquechollan Exhibition.

The Lienzo de Quauhquechollan is a pictographic painting on cotton cloth, created circa 1530. The Lienzo is considered the first map of Guatemala.

The Lienzo is also the only firsthand indigenous account of the conquest of Guatemala, and one of the few sources to record the military campaigns of Jorge de Alvarado in 1527–1530. The exhibit of the Lienzo de Quauhquechollan brings to life this untold story of Guatemala's conquest. 

The exhibition coincides with the 2013 Maya Meetings and will be on display until March 2013.

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Tomb of Maya queen K’abel discovered in Guatemala

Archaeologists in Guatemala have discovered the tomb of Lady K’abel, a seventh-century Maya Holy Snake Lord considered one of the great queens of Classic Maya civilization.


The tomb was discovered during excavations of the royal Maya city of El Perú-Waka’ in northwestern Petén, Guatemala, by a team of archaeologists led by Washington University in St. Louis’ David Freidel, co-director of the expedition.

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Major Discovery: Tomb of Lady K'abel

The burial chambers of Lady K'abel have been discovered at the site of El Perú-Waka' beneath the staircase leading to the summit of Structure M13-1.

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David Stuart Lecture on Xultun

David Stuart

David Stuart Lecture: The Discovery and Decipherment of a Maya Astronomer's "Notes" at Xultun, Guatemala

This event is free and open to the public. Joins us October 3 at 8 pm.

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Slideshow: Maya murals found in Chajul kitchen

Family portrait in front of revealed Maya murals

National Geographic is currently hosting a slideshow of a multi-wall Maya mural program that was revealed during a local Chajul family's kitchen renovation.

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Dennis Tedlock @ UT: The First 2000 Years of Mayan Literature

image of Dennis Tedlock

For those in the Austin area, mark your calendars for Thursday, September 27th, at 4pm for a talk by noted Mayan literature expert, Dennis Tedlock, here at the University of Texas at Austin. More details on the lecture available after the break.

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Major Discovery: Cueva Rey Condoy

A recently discovered cave in the Oaxaca Valley contains several new and exciting examples of Zapotec visual culture, including wonderful over-life-size mud sculptures of human and supernatural figures, rock paintings, and lithics.

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Research Reports on Ancient Maya Writing

The Research Reports on Ancient Maya Writing issues number 61, 62, and 63 are now available for download at the University of Texas Digital Repository!

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