The ancient Maya are renowned for their mathematical mastery as calendar creators, pioneering astronomers, and pyramid builders. Yet the names of the brilliant individuals whose calculations predicted planetary movements and advised the kings of the Maya Empire are not part of the historical record.
New Study Details Achievements of Maya Mathematician-Astronomer
(a) Reconstruction of Structure 10K-2 at Xultun showing the position of Text 19 on the eastern wall. (b) Multispectral photograph of the original inscription that enabled researchers to decipher the earliest known named Maya mathematician-astronomer. Source: Heather Hurst and G. Ware/Antiquity.
Now, researchers Franco D. Rossi of MIT, Heather Hurst of Skidmore, Director of the Proyecto Regional Arqueológico San Bartolo-Xultun, Guatemala, and David Stuart of the University of Texas-Austin have presented a newly deciphered calendrical formula located within a chamber of wall paintings at the site of Xultun, Guatemala. According to their study, published in the journal Antiquity, the formula, designated as Text 19, “records a unique set of astronomical calculations that were attributed to an individual named Sak Tahn Waax (White-chested Fox).”
The researchers note that the inscription “places an indigenous Maya scholar among astronomers and mathematicians of ancient Greece, China, and Mesopotamia.” Recognizing Sak Tahn Waax's contributions can foster admiration and respect for Maya intellectual achievements, emphasizing their importance in world history.
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Advanced Digital Imaging Restores Maya Hieroglyphs
Multispectral photograph (left) and epigraphic reconstruction (right) of Text 19 from Xultun, Guatemala, identifying the eighth-century Maya mathematician-astronomer Sak Tahn Waax ("White-chested Fox"). (G. Ware. Drawing: Franco D. Rossi. Courtesy of the authors/Antiquity)
The study describes a small painted inscription, a microtext, discovered in a structure containing a mural chamber at Xultun, originally uncovered 16 years ago. Using high-quality photographs, digital scans, and image enhancement, researchers restored eleven damaged hieroglyphs, including the scholar’s name. This technological progress highlights how digital imaging helps uncover lost knowledge, inspiring confidence in future discoveries.
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Deciphering Glyphs Requires Special Training
The research team interpreted Text 19 as, “a sequence of dates with calendrical intervals as a mathematical exercise.” The various sequences are arranged in unique ways that reflect mathematical knowledge and observational astronomy. According to Rossi, Text 19 was in a chamber characterized as “a workspace for specialists making codex books, containing papermaking tools, all dated through ceramic and radiocarbon analysis to 650-950 AD.” Study co-author David Stuart compares deciphering the Maya glyphs to solving thousands of puzzles at one time. It requires special training in linguistics, archaeology, art history, and digital imaging to understand the meaning of each glyph and its pronunciation. Only in the mid-20th century did researchers discover that Maya writing was not only symbolic but also represented spoken language.
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Comparison of the preserved glyphs of Text 19 (left) and their scholarly reconstruction (right), revealing the name of the Maya mathematician-astronomer Sak Tahn Waax. (David Stuart and Franco D. Rossi/Antiquity)
Scholarly Achievements Were Greatly Valued
Researchers note that the chamber suggests bookmaking was part of a Maya scholar's education and that the structure was used for educational purposes. They required training in writing, mathematics, astronomy, and rituals. The mural on the chamber’s walls showed seated men, surrounding a king dressed as a mythological figure. During the Classic Maya period, rulers valued scientific achievement along with warfare and diplomacy. The Maya mathematical achievements compare favorably to those of the Greek, Egyptian, and Roman traditions. They are known for the early use of zero and astronomical precision. Hurst notes that it is unusual for any personal names to be used in texts. She believes that Text 19 was a completed formula that the author wanted to use in future work and wanted to share with fellow scholars. Researchers cannot confirm that the author himself painted the text on the wall - another scribe could also have recorded the formula.
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Mounds at the the archaeological site of Xultun, Guatemala, where the inscription was found. Source (Proyecto Regional Arqueológico San Bartolo-Xultun; PRASBX)
Researchers Hope to Assign Authorship to More Maya Achievements
Looking ahead, the research team aims to uncover inscriptions that name additional Maya scholars through continued excavations and breakthroughs in digital imaging. They hope to assign authorship to more Indigenous Maya intellectuals, allowing their scientific and scholarly achievements to be recognized alongside Sak Tahn Waax.
Top Image: The mathematical formula inscribed on a wall at the Maya site of Xultun, Guatemala. Source (F.D. Rossi; H. Hurst)
By Ramsey Hardin
References
Howlett, Joseph. 2026. “We finally know the name of an ancient Maya mathematician.” Edited by Lee Billings. Scientific American (July). https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-finally-know-the-name-of-a-maya-mathematician/
Rossi D. Franco, Stuart, David, and Hurst, Heather. “The identification and work of an eighth-century Maya mathematician.” Antiquity. Published online 2026:1-16. doi:10.15184/aqy.2026.10378
Simms, Chris. 2026. “Mathematics formula found on Maya wall rivals insights of ancient masters.” Nature (July). https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02170-8.
Maya mathematician’s name decoded alongside astronomical formula. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2578746-maya-mathematicians-name-decoded-alongside-astronomical-formula/
