Maya Glyph Workshop in Program Highlights

Chiapas w/Dr. Gabrielle Vail • Participate in Glyph Workshops with one of the leading Maya , , Yaxchilan, Tonina, San Epigraphers, Dr. Vail to learn Cristobal de Las Casas & Highland Communities about Maya: 1. Cosmology

January 5—13, 2012 2. Dynastic History

3. Ancestral Veneration

4. Calendric Interpretation and its divinatory and historical function

• Learn about the Maya and Cacao at Comalcalco

• Read Glyphs and Learn about Ma- ya Dynastic Succession at Palen- que Museum and Site

• Learn of Rulers and Satellite Sites of Bonampak and Yaxchilan. Study the Mural frescoes, stelea, inscriptions and lintels

• Climb the Maya hilltop fortress of Tonina and learn how this aggres- sive kingdom relied on warfare for domination and control • This is a wonderful opportunity to join Dr. Gabrielle Vail, a Travel to San Cristobal de Las renowned Maya scholar and epigrapher to learn of the history Casas to learn about Bishop Bartolome de Las Casas and evolution of Maya epigraphy. By combining glyph work- shops with strategic on-site visits, we get a better understanding • Visit surrounding Highland Maya of not only the technique of deciphering these logosyllabic sym- communities such as Chamula, bols, but also how the Maya used this writing system towards Zinacantan various objectives, such as: to record important dates, document dynastic succession, record victories and defeats, identify royal titles. Dr. Vail will focus on Cosmology, Dynastic History, Ancestral Veneration and students will learn to inter- pret the to understand its divinatory and historical function. We explore the Maya past and pre- sent by visiting sites such as: Comalcalco, Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilan, Tonina and San Cristobal de Las Casas and surround- ing highland communities. Join us!

Trip Includes:

• Accommodations • Expert Guides and/or Academics • Comfortable / Secure Transportation • Welcome and Farewell Dinners • Breakfasts • Meals according to itinerary • Water on Van/Coach • Airport Transfers • Entry Fees See , Beyond the Beach Resorts Itinerary Day 6: Yaxchilan Today we travel up the to explore the impressive and sprawling Maya site, Yaxchilan. This Day 1: Arrive Villahermosa kingdom was among the most powerful on river front and was in continual battle for Day 2: Comalcalco Ruins, Cacao Plan- domination of trade routes and resources tation, After breakfast, we begin our day with Piedras Negras, its primary rival. with a visit to the classic era Maya site of Architecturally, this site is known for its Comalcalco. This westernmost site of the well-preserved sculptured stone lintels set Maya region, is set in rolling green hills and above the doorways of the main structures. was the only pyramid built with bricks, the These lintels, together with the stelae erect- local material. After reviewing the small ed before the major buildings, contain hier- but excellent on site museum and site, we oglyphic texts describing the dynastic histo- pay a special visit to a cacao plantation, ry of the city. where we learn of the importance and use of cacao in early Maya ceremony. We have our own ceremony as we taste what the Day 7: Tonina, San Christobal de Las drink was like in ancient times and we enjoy Casas Today, we say good-by to the Low- a delicious and traditional home cooked lands and begin our drive towards the Chia- meal. Then, we transfer to Palenque, to pas Highlands, known for its light air and begin our explorations of this important brilliant sun, at almost 7,000 feet. En route, Classic era site. we visit the hill-top Maya ruins of Tonina. Given its location, Tonina is less known, but Day 3: Glyph Workshop and Palenque is in fact one of the most spectacular Maya On-Site Museum. The first half of our day sites, given its hilltop setting and distinctive is dedicated to our first Glyph Workshop monumental style. We continue on our lead by Dr. Gabrielle Vail. We will learn journey to San Cristobal, where we check about the early epigraphers and learn into our centrally located hotel and begin to about advances in deciphering, understand- get our first impressions of this colonial city ing and reading Maya writing. In this named after Bartolome de las Casas, the Transportation: Licensed, insured, workshop, we will begin to identify the sym- first Bishop of , who was known as comfortable and safe vans bols that form the basis of the letters that the “conscience of the conquest”, given his reflect names of rulers, dynastic succession, tireless campaigns to put an end to the con- cosmology and other important historical quest methods used by the Spanish. Our documentation. During the second half of evening is at leisure in San Cristobal (B,L) our day and by visiting the stunning on site museum , we will be able to practice our Day 8: Zinacantan, Chamula We ven- glyph reading skills as we learn about the ture into the highland communities of Zi- various rulers of Palenque, namely K'inich nacantan & Chamula, highland communi- Janaab' Pakal . ties of speaking Maya. In Zi- nacantan, flowers are seen everywhere; Day 4: Palenque Site & Optional Visit from the cultivation of geraniums, carna- to Misol Ha Waterfalls Palenque is one tions and mums, to the bright embroidered of the largest and most distinct Maya sites flowers on their huipils and capes. Daily with a proliferation of sculptures and glyph life in this community centers on weaving inscriptions. Historians and anthropolo- and textile traditions for the women, and gists continue to decipher and document tending to religious and civic affairs, for the their findings at this site. We get to spend an men. Not far in distance, but very different entire day in both guided and self guided in mood and feel, we travel to Chamula. time to explore the multiple structures and Entering the church, we leave the world we groups such as the Temple of the Inscrip- know behind, and enter into a surreal, mys- tions, The Cross Group and the Palace, all tical place where eggs, coca cola and posh on a karst limestone escarpment. For those (sugar cane based firewater) co-mingle in a who wish, we will offer an optional short religious ceremony dedicated to healing the excursion to take a refreshing dip in the infirm and driving out evil spirits. Return- Misol-Ha waterfalls. ing to San Cristobal, we enjoy dinner at Na Hotels: Centrally Located and Charming Bolom, followed by a fireside chat by Pat- Properties in Palenque and San Cristobal Day 5 : Bonampak, Glyph Workshop rick Ruiz, nephew of the recently passed and de Las Casas After a breakfast of fresh tortillas, eggs and former Archbishop of Chiapas who was a beans at “Willies”, we travel to Bonampak tireless advocate for indigenous rights. Pat- to learn about this satellite site of Yaxchillan rick will help us understand the historical FOR MORE INFORMATION and of the dynasties of Yajaw Chan Mu- struggle of the people of Chiapas. waan I and Chan Muwaan II. We visit the CONTACT: famous Temple of the Murals, that depict Day 9 : Depart for Airport for flights home Classic era court life of the Maya. These or optional extension for further explora- pectacular frescos reflect the dress, civil, tions in San Cristobal and the highland Tia Stephanie Tours religious and military life of the Maya. Re- communities. (734)-769-7839 turning to Escudo Jaguar, Dr. Vail will lead [email protected] us in another Glyph Workshop with a focus on Ancestral Veneration to prepare for our next day’s visit to Yaxchilan.