Why the modern Maya look to the 19th century rather than ancient ruins
In short: While the world focuses on ancient pyramids, contemporary Maya in the Yucatan find their identity in a different era: the mid-19th century Caste War.
A new project by the Penn Museum in Quintana Roo investigates how the contemporary Maya connect to their heritage. Rather than drawing direct lines to the ancient Maya civilization, many living in the Yucatan today identify their history through the lens of the Caste War, one of the Americas' most successful indigenous rebellions.
Led by Dr. Richard Leventhal, the project seeks to integrate the living Maya community into the archaeological and ethnographic study of this specific historical period.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Preserving the Maya Past
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