jan 1, 1981 - The Maya Code is Deciphered

Description:

After centuries of the history of the Maya being lost to the burning of Maya texts by the Spanish Inquisition, the Maya code was finally cracked. Prior to this achievement, the remaining texts that were left by the Maya, a majority of which were carved into architecture, could be read. This was a massive advancement in understanding the history of the Maya as well as their religious practices, for better or for worse. Prior to this discovery, we had assumed them to be a society primarily entranced by the stars, and while they did have a fascination with the stars, they also were involved in human sacrifice and religious wars. Understanding this history was particularly important for the population in Mexico that still identifies as Maya.
Depicted is David Stuart, the man who put the work of several men and women together to finally read Maya hyroglyphs.