Archaeologists have successfully deciphered the name of an ancient Mayan astronomer and mathematician from mural symbols found at the San Bartolo-Xultun archaeological site, marking the first time such an inscription has been identified from the civilization. The name, "White-chested Fox," was revealed through the analysis of drawings dating between 400 BC and 900 AD, located near the Mexican border in Guatemala. The announcement was made on July 14, 2026, at 7:19 AM EDT.
The inscription attributes a "complete mathematical and astronomical formula" to Sak Tahn Waax, which translates to White-chested Fox. Luis Mendez, Guatemala's Minister of Culture, stated that this is the only known work from a mathematician of the Maya Classic period, considered the zenith of the Mesoamerican civilization, to be fully identified.
The discovery was made possible by an epigraphic analysis of over 50 mathematical and astronomical microtexts inscribed on the walls. Researchers identified calculations and tables incorporating astronomical and calendrical units of time. The ministry reported that the decipherment involved examining drawings, photographs, and scans of the inscriptions, which were then digitally enhanced to reveal 11 hieroglyphs that could be translated.
Mendez noted that the glyphs were found in a context where art was integrated with science, mathematics, astronomy, and daily life. The Maya civilization experienced a decline around 900 AD, eventually collapsing with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century.
This finding follows other recent archaeological announcements. Last year, the culture ministry revealed the discovery of a nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city in northern Guatemala, featuring pyramids and monuments. In 2024, a sprawling Maya city was found by an American doctoral student in a dense Mexican jungle, with scientists using laser technology from aircraft to penetrate the foliage and locate ancient ruins.
