Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Zac Lindsey

@arkeogato.bsky.social

160 followers 150 following 29 posts

Institute of Maya Studies board member, scholar of the cute, the only #archaeologist who can tell you which ancient #Maya kings were jerks

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · Nov 23

I’m Zac. I study ancient and contemporary Maya history, which lumps me in with archaeology but I’m a historian. I want to connect you to the real people who played (and play) important roles in the development of indigenous history in the Americas. History is often dry; I’m unabashedly subjective

A goofy archaeologist in front of the site of Uxmal

2 9

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 26m

The view of the Nunnery through the House of Turtles at the #Maya site of #Uxmal in #Yucatan. Turtles are associated with rain because they live in caves during the dry season. When the water levels start rising, they emerge, so they’re a sign the seasons are changing. #archaeology #travel 🏺

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 1d

Spooky #ghost story from the jungles of #Yucatan for #Halloween! The story of Xtaabay is one of my favorite Maya #legends. This version’s based on Luis Rosado Vega’s version. Today Xtaabay has a bit of a feminist vibe—after all, she eats drunk jerks …

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 3d

With its three towers, Xpujil in the southern #Yucatan Peninsula is one of the stranger #Maya sites. At its height during and immediately after the Classic Maya “collapse,” rulers may have used this style to imitate the pyramids of #Tikal, but on a budget. Budget or no, the results are impressive! 🏺

1 7

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 3d

Certainly a possibility. In real life, there haven’t been examples of people surviving to adulthood with this type of conjoining like the person in this statue, but of course it could be mythological or idealized

1 1

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 4d

An absolute stunner from the Palacio Canton. Three-eyed woman motif existed for millennia in #Mesoamerican #art but it’s somewhat mysterious and poorly studied. This particular one is #Maya, probably Late Classic (900 CEish), but 3-eyed people at Tlatilco may be from 2000 BCE— 3000 years earlier! 🏺

1 2 17

Reposted by Zac Lindsey

👁🌻🦊⚙️⚓ Bob, Engineer, Pusher of Paper @navmecheng.bsky.social · 5d

> It is 2025 BC. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

> It is 2025 AD. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

Soldiers at the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis, TN.

72 3.5K 12K

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 5d

This small set-up at the City Museum of Merida gives an idea of what Jo’ may have looked like in the Postclassic (1000 to 1500 CE)

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 5d

This stone with a pattern somewhat like a Celtic knot tells us that the Maya city here (called Ichkaansijo or just Jo’) had Puuc culture influence. The Puuc is also seen at sites like Uxmal to the south.

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 5d

As a historian, I care for this structure. As an archaeologist, I hate it. It and a few others have taken a lot from us, stripped us of our understanding of one of Yucatán’s most important Maya cities.
This stone with a flower pattern was carved by the Maya and reused in the church.

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 5d

Kids playing at the Iglesia de Jesus, Tercer Orden, #merida. Like many churches in Yucatan, it is unquestionably beautiful … and built from stones pulled from Maya structures, an attack on Maya culture, pure and simple. How should we look at these structures today? #hiddenspots

1 1 1

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 8d

If you’ve visited Yucatan, you may have heard masks like this one at Labna called Chac masks, but it’s more complicated than that. Many may represent the sky god Itzamnaaj, or earth monsters. In Spanish they just call him the big-nosed god. #archaeology #hiddenspots 🏺 #maya

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 10d

Not all lost cities are in the jungle! The #Maya site of Opichen is lost right in the middle of #Merida. #hiddenplaces 🏺 #mesoamerica #archaeology

2 11

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 13d

Edzna is one of the stranger #Maya archaeological sites I’ve been to. Look at that pyramid! Most don’t have that many rooms. Its name means “House of the Itzaes,” but there’s little reminiscent of Chichen Itza. Rather, by the 600s CE, Edzna was an important ally of the Snake Dynasty of Calakmul.

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 15d

Wow thanks so much for the shoutout!

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 15d

Have you heard of the magician who supposedly built this pyramid at Uxmal? 🏺 #yucatan #archaeology #mythsandlegends

4 24

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 16d

Actun Usil is a cave in Yucatan where the ancient Maya people of Oxkintok came to worship. The ceilings are covered in representations of the heavens, handprints of shamans adorn the walls, and the stones have been carved into faces. Must have been wild by torchlight. Come visit!

1 4

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 17d

Early dnd marketing really banked on folks wanting to battle oozes and slimes

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 17d

Maya ceramics are some of the most beautiful in the ancient world. This young ruler’s poise and thoughtfulness are still visible more than a thousand years later, as are flakes of the famous Maya blue paint that he once wore as face paint. Palacio Canton, Mérida. 🏺

7 23

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 21d

The Temple of the Seven Dolls at Dzibilchaltun. Named for the seven clay figurines found inside, it may have been related to sun worship. Every year on the equinoxes the sun rises through that doorway. 🏺 #archaeology #maya #mesoamerica

1 11

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 21d

Too bad you’re not feeling it, I like the effect a lot

1 1

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 21d

The lines from the shadow of the blinds are lovely

1 1

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · 22d

Pozo 6 in Yucatán is a single beautiful Maya Puuc-style house a kilometer from the road through deep brush. Little of the Puuc-style stone facade was left, but there were a few of the cylindrical forms popular on these buildings. Probably 600-900s CE.
Lovely structure. 🏺

1 11

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · Sep 1

Copal is still popular in Maya communities. You may smell the sweet, smoky scent walking the streets of Maya towns if a building is being dedicated or if people are cleaning.
I've heard it described as having a "turpentine" smell, but I think it's pleasant. Not quite good enough to eat, though.

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · Sep 1

"Fire entering" ceremonies may have been cleansing rituals for new buildings. The Yajaw K'ahk' was a Maya title that meant "his lord of fire" or something similar. This person was responsible for purifying new buildings, likely with copal.
Image from Stuart (2005).

1 1

Zac Lindsey @arkeogato.bsky.social · Sep 1

In the Popol Vuh, when an owl is asked to kill the maiden Xkik', the young woman escapes in a very "Snow White" way. Sworn to bring the heart as proof of his deed, the owl instead brings a blob of reddish copal. This saves her from certain death.