Introduction - Like Indiana Jones, you are an adventurer and an archaeologist in search of ancient civilizations.  You have decided to go to a place that has pyramids very similar to those of Egypt.

You are about to embark on an adventure into the deep jungles of Mexico.  Your quest is to discover the meaning of the mysterious pictures found on the various ancient man-made structures buried within the jungle.  Not only that, but you are to discover which ancient culture drew those pictures and when they lived there.  In order to determine that, we will join our guide, Pablo, in the Mesoamerican Room at Teolihuacan University for a lesson on Pre-Columbian civilizations.
 

What a lesson!  Are you ready to go into the jungle?  First, lets have a look at where we will be going. 

• Our four main tasks are:

1. Identify the meaning and symbolism of various glyphs.
2. Identify and understand similarities and differences between our calendar system and that of the Maya.
3. Give a five minute presentation to class of some of your favorite glyphs, where you found them, historical background, and why they are your favorite.
4. Design and carve your own glyph into a 4"x3" piece of SandStone.

Bounce back to the top.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Process -  Take notes along the way.  Keep a journal of everything you find and where you found it.  Keep your hunting packet ready and available, because there are several written assignments along the way.

• Step 1:  Team up with a partner.  You will be working with the same person for this entire quest.
• Step 2:  Look again at the map of mexico and note several locations and the predominant cultures for each location; make a list in your journal:
• Yaxchilan
• Bonampak
• Teolihuacan
• La Venta
• Chichen Itza
• Tenochtitlan
• Step 3:  There are several buildings and stellas that have glyphs in each of the locations we are going to visit.  In order to determine the meaning of those glyphs, we need to know a little bit about the writings of the ancient Mesoamericans.  They wrote books called codices.  Lets look at an Aztec Codex.
• Step 4:  Do the worksheets #1 and #2 from your hunting packet.
• Step 5:  Look at the stellas at the various locations and try to determine what the various glyphs mean and what the scene is about.
• Step 6:  Now do worksheets #3 and #4 in your hunting packet.
• Step 7:  Remember to use both internet sources as well as text sources.  Add to you list of places and cultures a glyph you found unique to that particular culture.
• Step 8:  Now, read about the Mesoameican calendar (look in texts as well as links) and number systems.
• Step 9:  Now do worksheets #5, #6 and #7 in your hunting packet.
• Step 10:  Pick an idea for your own glyph using the information you have gained.  Make it mean something.  Now, follow the instructions and draw your own glyph.
• Step 11:  Transfer your design and start caving your SandStone.
• Step 12:  Prepare for your class presentation.  Pick your favorite glyph or glyphs, describe where you found it, what culture, what stella or lintel you found it in, and tell why you chose it or them.  You may use PowerPoint as your presentation tool.
• EXTRA CREDIT:  What part does corn play in the lives of ancient Mesoamericans and what did they call it?

Guidance -

• Remember to look in both text resources as well as links to various sites for information.  Some information you will need may only be available in books and visa versa.  For example, check out The Aztecs, Maya and their Predecessors by Muriel Weaver and The Maya Cosmos by David Freidel to find out the meanings of various glyphs.
• Look at the example of what you will be caving, when you get ready for that step.

Bounce back to the top.

Information Sources

• Internet Sources:

Writing systems
The Mayan Calendar
Archaeological sites:
Teotihuacan
Feathered Serpent
Tula
Chichen Itza
• Texts :

· Coe, Michael D.  México.
· Coe, Michael D. The Maya.
· Smith, Michael E.  The Aztecs.
· Leon-Portilla, Miguel.   Aztec Thought and Culture
· Bernal, Ignacio.  The Olmec World.
· Townsend, Richard.  The Aztec.
Freidel, David.  Maya Cosmos, Three Thousand Years on the Shaman's Path
Weaver, Muriel.  The Aztecs, Maya, and their Predecessors.

Evaluation - Each pair's outline (journal) of information about the various cultures, unique glyphs, etc, will be evaluated and will joint with other pairs in comparing information.

• Completion of worksheets - 5 points each.
• Be able to say their birthday according to the Aztec and/or Mayan calendar systems, like 1 Alligator, etc.
• Evaluation of information evident in presentation - 20 points.
• Completion of carving project - 40 points.

Conclusion -

• Five minute presentation to class using PowerPoint if possible
• Sharing your carving with rest of class