Copan Notes

Copan notes Maya rulers carved elaborate monuments that told stories of their ascent to the throne, their lineage, important battles, or other events. The Maya had a sophisticated and accurate calendar and a system of hieroglyphic writing. They dated many monuments and included the names of kings and when they reigned. There is one unfinished monument at Copan that can provide you with clues. Today, there are many people living in the Copan Valley. They …

…examine. They are both skulls of residents of Copan. Both were found buried a few miles from Copan’s center (or acropolis). What do these clues reveal about Copan? Record your thoughts in your journal. Plant and soil evidence can provide clues to what happened in the past. You may want to examine this pollen slide, which comes from a sample taken from the bottom of a bog in a farming area outside of Copan.