A pivot point in Maya history: fire-burning event at Ucanal

 (cambridge.org)

54 points | by smartmic 15 days ago

5 comments

  • gfaure 13 days ago
    The end result seems to have been the intentional desecration of the corpses of a previous ruling dynasty in a massive, public bonfire, and the (probably intentional) use of the undifferentiated remains — jewellery, precious beads and more — as construction material.
  • gavindean90 13 days ago
    With the other terminal classic period fires maybe we can suggest that there was a change in political power across the Maya world and part of that was burning the old dynasties literally and figuratively as described here.
  • RobotToaster 13 days ago
    Fire burning, as opposed to other kinds of burning?
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    • kevindamm 13 days ago
      counterpoint: boiling

      edit: also radiation, wind, ...

  • mistrial9 13 days ago
    on page 4, that drawing is not a likeness of the stone carving on the right.
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    • AlotOfReading 13 days ago
      That's because it's an illustration of a different altar, #12. The picture is of Altar #13. Both depict the same ruler, which is why they're in the same figure.
  • ketanmaheshwari 13 days ago
    Looking at the map, I vaguely recall it is about the same location where the meteor struck that caused extinction of dinosaurs.
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