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Prehistoric Seafaring Exploration of the

Chontal Maya from Northern Yucatan

The precocious Chontal Maya/Itza centered in the northern Yucatan were far ahead of their contemporary neighbors in the arts and science including writing, mathematics, and public architecture. This study shows that the seafaring and mercantile oriented Chontal Maya from northern Yucatan were also a worldly element of the Maya civilization who traveled and spread their cultural influence not only throughout continental Mesoamerica, but ventured across the seas in exploration voyages to the islands of the Caribbean and to the shores of Florida. Consistent with this accomplishment, the Chontal Maya had developed naval engineering , metallurgy, tool design, and ship building capabilities that enabled them to construct the large composite seaworthy vessels required. This is contrary to current consensus among Maya scholars who view the Maya as largely sedentary and introverted people with only crude log canoes and no knowledge or interest beyond their own known continental borders.

This Material from the early Seafaring Exploration Series, published by the New World Explorers, Inc., is copyright protected. Reproduction and distribution is permitted for non-profit educational use. Reproduction and use of the illustrations in other writings should be obtained from the publisher.

Volume 1, #2 ..............................................................................Copyright - January 2002
Early Seafaring Exploration Series ............................................................Douglas T. Peck

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