Interpreting a Prophecy: The End of the Maya Calendar

Learn about the lifestyle of the ancient Maya through activities and displays at the next Utah State University’s Museum of Anthropology and its “Saturdays at the Museum” activity.

Visitors can participate at various booths that teach about daily life in Mayan society on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are many activities planned, including teaching visitors to spell their names in Mayan hieroglyphs, learn about Mayan mathematics, play a Mayan ball game called Pitz and taste Mayan Ka’Kau, one of the earliest forms of chocolate. Patrons will also learn about the famous Mayan Calendar, discover how to read it and find out about the prophecy that predicts the end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012.

“It’s one thing to read about Mayan culture,” said Amanda Arthur, museum assistant. “But it brings a whole new understanding when you get hands-on experience, which is what we’re trying to achieve this Saturday.”

Community members, as well as Utah State students, can visit the museum during its operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Funding for the Saturday events is provided by a grant from the United States Institute of Museum and Library Services. More information about the IMLS is available online (www.imls.gov).

The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252. Admission is free. For Saturday activities, free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building.

For more information about this event, call museum staff at (435) 797-7545 or visit the museum website.

The Museum of Anthropology is part of the Anthropology Program at USU in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
 

Source: Museum of Anthropology

Contact: USU Museum of Anthropology, (435) 797-7545, anthro.museum@usu.edu