The World Will Go On after The Mayan Calendar Ends It's Current Cycle

In Guatemala, there was a discovery of Mayan art painted on the walls of a dwelling that pre-dates the other Mayan calendars by centuries according to archaeologists.

Dr. William Saturno in 2005 discovered the oldest known Mayan murals in San Bartolo.  At the time, he was with the University of New Hampshire.  He is now with Boston University.  A follow up by one of his students in 2010 lead to the new discovery.

The most important of the findings made was of the astronomical tables.  Quote: Perhaps most intriguing among the finds were several finds related to astronomical tables, including four long numbers on the east wall that represent a cycle lasting up to 2.5 million days.


The east wall is mostly covered by tabulations of black symbols or "glyphs" that map out various astronomical cycles: that of Mars and Venus and the lunar eclipses. end quote.

The Mayan numbering system for dates is a very complex one Dr. Saturno points out.  Quote:  The Mayan numbering system for dates is a complex one in base-18 and base-20 numbers that, in modern-day terms, would "turn over" at the end of 2012. end quote.

The BIG, heartbreaking news of this article for those looking forward to doomsday is this:  The Maya predicted the world will go on for another 7,000 years.

Here's looking at you on December 22nd, 2012!


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Ref.
1. BBC. "Mayan art and calendar at Xultun stun archaeologists" May 10, 2012. ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18018343 ). image by W. Saturno/D.Stuart published with online article.

Submerged Mayan Ruins Discovered!

Roberto Samayoa - a businessman and recreational diver who likes to explore picturesque Lake Atitlan, Guatemala made a discovery 12 years ago in 1996, that underwater archaeologists are now finally getting around to exploring. The 400-square-meter area has been mapped with sonar and the parts of the complex that is above water are being excavated.

What would any self respecting discoverer would do on making such a discovery? Why name it after himself of course. The site is currently name Samabaj. There are parts of buildings, huge ceremonial stones known as stelae.

Researchers believe that this area, now 50-feet below the lake's surface, was once an island until a catastropic event took place. Maybe a volcanic eruption or a landside that raised the water level of the lake. The raising lake appears to have taken place about 250 AD - which is before the height of the Mayan Empire. Ceramics found intact there suggest that the inhabitants had to leave in a hurry.

The exact location of the site is a secret to protect it from looters who fish in the ruins for artifacts to be sold on the blackmarket - sometimes for thousands of dollars.

For more information, please use the link below.

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Reuters.com. October 30, 2009. "Divers probe Mayan ruins submerged in Guatemala lake." by Sarah Grainger (http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE59T4P120091030).

My Take on New Action Hero-Gabriel Hunt

I have just finished reading the first book in a new Pulp-Action Adventure series.  And I loved it. 

Book one is:  Hunt At The Well Of Eternity (Gabriel Hunt, James Reasoner), May 2009. Cover art by Glen Orbik.

Synopsis:  The woman carrying the bloodstained flag seemed desperate for help-but it was the attack that followed that convinced Gabriel there was something here men would kill for.  And that was before he knew about the dungeon in the Mayan ruins, or the legendary secret in the rain forest of Guatemala.  

This new book series is intended to be, in my opinion, the new Indiana Jones of the 21st Century.  Supposedly written by the 'hero' himself, Gabriel Hunt. Along with assistance from "guest" authors going under the Hunt name such as James Reasoner in this first book of a planned five plus book series.   In fact, Publishers Weekly said about the Gabriel Hunt line the following, "Raises the action bar to nosebleed heights.  Pulp adventure fans will be thrilled to see the genre so smashingly resurrected."  

And add to that the cover art work by Glen Orbik - it just fits in with the Pulp Adventure look.  One could have expected to see this style on bookstore shelves back in the 1960s/70s along side of Doc Salvage, the Man of Bronze, etc.  

The pacing is quick.  You get the right amount of information when you need it to carry the story along further. It was a quick read for me.  I took it along to work hoping to be able to read it on my breaks, but Saturday, the incoming call volume to the call cent that I work at was slow for the majority of the day.  Only towards the end of my shift at 8pm did call volume start to pick up to where I was no longer able to read the book.  But in between those calls, I was able to read about three or four pages at a time.  From the time I clocked in until I clocked out, I was able to read three quarters of the book.  

James Reasoner was able to fold in some of his recent U.S. Civil War knowledge into this tale. Anyone astute enough to understand what the Well of Eternity is, that the well is also known by another-more famous name; can figure out what the main plot device is driving this story.  

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Ref. ( http://www.huntforadventure.com/books_bios.cgi?entry=bk1).

( http://www.huntforadventure.com/).