The Maya built enormous cities and magnificent temple pyramids. They developed advanced calendars and complex writing systems. Their kingdoms rivalled some of the greatest in Europe – and they cultivated crops that were completely unknown in our part of the world: maize, squash and cacao.

But who were the Maya? How did they build their magnificent civilisation? The jungle grew over it all, hiding the answers for centuries.

In the film, Jesper and Jonas follow in the footsteps of Frans Blom, a Danish explorer who, 100 years ago, was among the first to map impressive Maya monuments hidden beneath the jungle in Mexico and reveal a glimpse of a forgotten past.

Jesper Nielsen holds a PhD and is an associate professor of Mesoamerican Studies at the University of Copenhagen. Jonas Bransholm is a presenter at Moesgaard Museum.

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#maya #worldhistory #explorers

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Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
00:44 – Frans Blom’s departure from Denmark
02:19 – The emergence of an archaeologist
05:05 – The Maya’s impressive cities: Exploring Palenque
09:55 – The secret of the Temple of the Inscriptions
12:44 – In the capital of the Snake Dynasty, Calakmul
14:40 – The Maya cosmos
16:57 – From decline to rediscovery
18:32 – The Maya today
20:43 – New discoveries on the horizon

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Thanks to:
INAH
Na Bolom Cultural Association
Hotel d’Angleterre
University of Copenhagen
Kbhbilleder.dk
Tore Leifer