Preserving Maya Heritage

A glimpse into the research and technological preservation of Maya heritage

In collaboration with

British Museum

The story of the Maya

And the lessons we can learn from their culture

EDITORIAL FEATURE

Who are the Maya?

Get to know the Maya of the past and today with writer and presenter Kanishk Tharoor

EDITORIAL FEATURE

What we can learn from the Maya

Historian and writer Robert Bevan on the lessons we can learn from the Maya

Preserving the stories of the Maya

ANCIENT WRITING

Decoding the Maya's ancient writing

A closer look at Maya hieroglyphic writing

PLASTER CASTS

Preservation, step-by-step

A closer look at what it takes to preserve plaster casts

ANCIENT TRADITION

The many faces of the Maya

The history behind Guatemalan masks

CONSERVING CULTURE

No Salt, Please!

How salt could possibly destroy the Maya calendar

Preservation in action

AMAZING TECHNOLOGY

How to decode ancient history with technology

Dr. Jago Cooper on how technology is helping us learn from the Maya

ANCIENT COLLECTIONS

From ancient gods to modern explorers

A brief history of the explorers and artefacts from the British Museum's ancient Maya collection

The incredible legacy of Alfred Maudslay

How a Victorian explorer changed our understanding of the ancient Maya

Online Exhibit

How Alfred Maudslay brought Maya culture to the world

Archaeologist, explorer, gamechanger

Online Exhibit

Digitizing Alfred Maudslay's legacy

How the British Museum is preserving his work

Examine ancient Maya artefacts in 3D

Click to explore the 3D models below

Quiriguá Zoomorph B

Combined Casts of Quiriguá Stela E

Cast of Tikal Temple 4 Central Lintel

Cast 43 of Quirigua Zoomorph B

Cast 44 of Quirigua Zoomorph B

Cast 42 of Quirigua Zoomorph B

Cast 41 of Quirigua Zoomorph B

Cast of Tikal Temple 4 Lintel 3

Then and now: ancient Maya monuments

Combining photos from the 1800s and 2017

Ancient Maya stone monument in 1881 and 2017

Quiriguá Stela D in 1881 (right) 2017 (left)

Ancient Maya 3D book in 1881 and 2017

Quiriguá Zoomorph B 1881 (left), 2017 (right)

Ancient Maya stone monument in 1881 and 2017

Quiriguá Stela F in 1881 (left), 2017 (right)

A closer look at Maudslay's casts

From photographs to 3D scans

3D scanned model of a Maudslay cast

Maudslay cast in British Museum Maya gallery, early 20th century

Maya hieroglyphs on a cast of Stela C, Quiriguá

Maya hieroglyph from Stela J at Quiriguá.

Screenshot of 3D scan of Maudslay cast GN.46

Cast of part of Stela E, Quiriguá; Am,MaudCast,GN.313

Maya Calendar Round date on Stela A, Quiriguá

Maya hieroglyph from Stela J at Quiriguá.

The Maya Long Count from Stela C at Quiriguá

ISIG on Stela C, Quiriguá

Step into the world of the Maya

ExploreIximcheGuatemala
ExploreParque Nacional TikalGuatemala
ExploreUaxactúnGuatemala
ExploreParque Arqueológico de QuiriguáGuatemala
ExploreParque Arqueológico ZaculeuGuatemala
ExploreTopoxtéGuatemala
ExploreAguatecaGuatemala
ExploreParque Nacional YaxhaGuatemala
ExploreTakalik AbajGuatemala
ExploreParque Arqueológico KaminaljuyúGuatemala
ExploreEl Zotz Maya TrekGuatemala
ExploreMuseo de QuiriguáGuatemala

Explore more

Online Exhibits

Online Exhibits

Artworks and Artefacts

Artworks and Artefacts

Street View

Street View

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