1,200-year-old Maya wall inscription yields first named astronomer and his planetary calculations

Researchers have deciphered the name of an ancient Maya astronomer-mathematician for the first time, etched into a painted wall at the archaeological site of Xultun in northeastern Guatemala. The inscription, dating to around 1,200 years ago during the Classic period (250, 900 CE), identifies the scholar as Sak Tahn Waax and pairs his name with unique formulas tracking the movements of the sun and planets. According to New Scientist, this is the oldest recorded name of an astronomer-mathematician from anywhere in the Americas.

"The unique formula tracks the movement of the planets in relation to the Sun."

IFLScienceSak Tahn Waax: For The First Time Ever, The Name Of An Ancient Maya Astronomer Has Been Discovered Alongside A Mathematical Text

These calculations were not abstract exercises. Phys reported that during the Classic period, mathematics and astronomy were integral to Maya society, with complex calendar-based observations influencing everything from the erection of monuments to the inauguration of kings and queens. The newly decoded text specifically predicts the orbital cycles of Mars and Venus, as noted by New Scientist.

PhysHidden in Maya wall writings: A named astronomer emerges from 1,200-year-old calculations

"The attribution proves the importance of such work more than 1,000 years ago."

The Art NewspaperName of ancient Maya astronomer-mathematician deciphered for the first time

The finding marks a breakthrough in understanding how Maya scholars claimed ownership of their intellectual work. Archaeologymag.com noted that experts identified Sak Tahn Waax after decoding a painted wall text, giving historians the first direct evidence of a Classic Maya scholar taking credit for a mathematical formula. Previously, such scientific contributions were largely anonymous.

archaeologymag.comFirst named Maya mathematician identified from 1,200-year-old wall inscription in Guatemala

Researchers reconstructed and transcribed the formula from the Xultun site, revealing a level of astronomical precision that underscores the sophistication of Maya science. As New Scientist and other outlets emphasized, this single inscription opens a window into the individual minds behind the ancient civilization's renowned celestial observations.