The Mysterious Maya - Public Lecture

This lecture by Professor Norman Hammond has already been booked out in Auckland, Wellington and Nelson. Don't miss out in Hamilton!

Professor Hammond is an internationally renowned archaeologist who is the visiting lecturer for the Royal Society of New Zealand Aronui Lecture Series taking place around New Zealand in August.

He has had a distinguished career in archaeology, specialising in the ancient Maya civilisation of Central America. He holds positions at Boston, Harvard and Cambridge universities, is the archaeology columnist for The Times newspaper, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

The Great Cycle of the Maya calendar runs out on 23 December 2012, which some predict to be a signal for the ‘end of the world’.

Professor Hammond is coming to New Zealand to deliver his lecture entitled “The Mysterious Maya – an ancient American civilisation”, in six centres. His lecture will look at what lessons we can learn from the rise and fall of accomplished ancient civilizations like the Maya. How does this help our understanding of modern society and modern eco-concerns like drought?

The Maya created one of the New World’s most surprising and accomplished civilisations in the tropical forest of Central America and Yucatan. Over a period of 2500 years, ending with the Spanish Conquest in the 16th century, they moved from simple villages of maize farmers to great cities with impressive temples and palaces. By AD 900 most of the cities were abandoned, afflicted by overpopulation, warfare and drought, but the Maya culture and people have survived into the 21st century.

Location: Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber.

Book here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1818760963?ref=ebtn.

Event listed by Royalsocietyofnz

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