Lost cities in the jungle and towering temple pyramids form only a smallpart of Mayan culture. This fascinating people achieved the landmarks ofan advanced civilisation a?? such as a highly developed writing system anddensely populated cities a?? in the classical period (AD 300-600), earningthem a place among the greatest civilisations in the world. However, thisperiod represents just one phase in the history of the Mayan culture,which extends over thousands of years. Our knowledge of Mayan life hasincreased dramatically in recent decades. As a result, specialists from awide range of disciplines have contributed to this book in order torepresent all of the latest research on the Maya. The contributionsincluded in this magnificent volume range from the origins of Mayanculture all the way to today, giving insight into everyday life andreligion as well as the artistic accomplishments and intellectualabilities of this important culture.