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Story summary
- Archaeologists announced that Saktahnwaax is the first named Maya mathematician-astronomer, identified from inscriptions at Xultun, Guatemala.
- An inscription (Text 19) on the east-north-east wall attributes a 2,920-day formula that combines eight solar years, five Venus years, the 260-day and 365-day calendars, a 584-day Venus cycle and a 780-day Mars cycle to Saktahnwaax.
- Researchers date the formula to 7 November AD 781 (Julian) and say it could have guided political ceremonies, predictive astronomy and seasonal planning.
