Mérida Archaeologist Brings Ancient Maya Texts Into the 21st Century

Decoding Maya hieroglyphs took years of effort, study, and collaboration by scholars worldwide. Though there are still some large gaps in our understanding of this ancient script, strides in machine learning and artificial intelligence are narrowing the gap. 

But the human element continues to be far from irrelevant. It is, as municipal archaeologist Eduardo Puga puts it, “absolutely indispensable.”

Eduardo is responsible for safeguarding Mérida’s archaeological heritage. But aside from his day job, Eduardo has been pursuing the art and science of Maya epigraphy. When watching Eduardo reproduce the highly detailed designs of Yucatec-Maya texts, it’s hard not to be struck by his concentration level and the evident love and devotion poured into every stroke of his ink or felt pen. 

But what makes Eduardo’s work different from that of many other epigraphers is that he does not limit himself to merely reproducing the work of the ancients but rather expanding and innovating on it. Because the reading and interpreting of Mayan hieroglyphs have been relegated almost entirely to archaeology faculties, there is no real consensus on how to represent contemporary words lacking a direct translation. After all, we would not expect the Maya to have words for things such as laptops or giraffes. 

Here is where creativity comes in. Through the research of etymologies, phonemes, and transliterations, Eduardo can create new hieroglyphs that adhere to the conventions of the ancient Maya but would even be legible to say, a Xiu lord of Uxmal a millennium and a half ago. 

“I never really started off looking for people to commission my work, but over time, folks just started coming to me on their own to create Mayan hieroglyphic texts to commemorate births, weddings, passings, and other important events, just like the ancients used to do,” Eduardo says with a grin. 

Though Maya hieroglyphs are beautiful, they are more than that. 

“They are a direct link to our ancestors and one through which we can establish a meaningful connection to learn more about them and ourselves.”

In recent years, Eduardo Puga has offered several epigraphy workshops to people of all ages and skill levels and advocated at conferences for a more nuanced understanding of Maya culture and cosmology.

A little history

The study of Maya hieroglyphic writing began in the late 19th century with early attempts to decipher dates and calendrical systems. Significant breakthroughs came in the mid-20th century, particularly with Heinrich Berlin’s identification of Emblem Glyphs and Tatiana Proskouriakoff’s demonstration that the texts recorded historical events, not just religious or astronomical content. 

The field accelerated in the 1970s and 1980s as scholars like David Stuart and Stephen Houston refined phonetic decipherment, revealing the script’s logosyllabic nature. Today, around 85-90% of surviving Maya glyphs can be read, allowing detailed reconstructions of dynastic histories, political conflicts, and ritual practices.

Current research focuses on refining translations, uncovering regional variations in writing, and integrating epigraphy with archaeology and ethnohistory. Digital tools, such as 3D imaging and online databases, enhance access to inscriptions.

Why epigraphy is key

Epigraphy has changed our understanding of the past, as evidenced by the decipherment of texts related to the Maya “collapse.” Earlier scholars often attributed the decline of Classic Maya cities (8th–10th centuries CE) to environmental factors, peasant revolts, or foreign invasions. However, epigraphic studies revealed that internal political instability and warfare played a central role.

For instance, inscriptions at sites like Piedras Negras and Yaxchilán describe escalating conflicts between ruling dynasties, including betrayals, sieges, and the capture and sacrifice of kings. A specific case is the downfall of the powerful city of Palenque, where texts indicate that military defeats at the hands of Toniná, a rival kingdom, precipitated its decline. The last dated monument at Palenque (799 CE) coincides with evidence of Toniná’s regional dominance.

This epigraphic evidence shifted the narrative from a vague, environmentally driven collapse to a more nuanced understanding of how political fragmentation and intercity warfare contributed to the disintegration of Classic Maya civilization.

The field also grapples with ethical issues, including collaboration with Indigenous Maya communities to ensure their perspectives shape interpretations. Future directions involve deeper linguistic analysis, further exploration of understudied sites, and increased emphasis on how writing functioned in everyday life beyond elite contexts. The goal remains a fuller understanding of Maya civilization through its own words.

Online: facebook.com/tlaloc.puga.