Allison Brown ANTH 1300 Dr. Toohey 3 May, 2020 Film Response 3: Lost King of the Maya The film, Lost King of the Maya, is a documentary by PBS that through archaeological evidence and historical accounts investigates the found of the Mayan city Copan in Honduras over a thousand years ago, Yax K'uk Mo. Archaeologists believe that his remains may rest in Copan under the pyramid temple. This Mayan family’s dynasty came to power for over 4 hundred years through their access to fresh water and transportation through the Copan River. In Copan evidence of an acropolis and advanced technology of the time have been discovered indicating an advanced society. The kept its power as suggested in the film through ritual murder and reserved alotment of resources, the majority of food and supplies going to the wealthy in the Mayan city. “Eighteen Are the Images of the God” nicknamed the18 Rabbit . This refers to the Mayan’s hieroglyphic system that depicts royal members of the dynasty. Altar Q was found in Coplan and seemed essential in helping archaeologists make sense of the Mayan hieroglyphics. However, a mysterious figure remained unnamed, “Years after the other kings were identified the first figure on Altar Q remained a mystery”. Perhaps what the Mayan people are most known for to a common individual is the Mayan Calendar. This calendar was a societal marvel and its accuracy was unprecedented at the time. This calendar contains a baktun. A baktun is 20 katun cycles of what was known as the long count calendar. The Mayan calendar was very accurate and its measurements stretched until recent times.