May 21, 2022

The Oldest Evidence of the Maya Calendar found at the site of San Bartolo in Guatemala.

The oldest evidence of the Maya calendar has been uncovered in Guatemala dating to 300-200 BCE at the site of San Bartolo, in the jungles north of Tikal. Two mural fragments with the 7 Deer day sign were among the 249 fragments of painted plaster and masonry blocks excavated at the site. This shows the Maya calendar was in use for at least 2,300 years.

The fragments were radio carbon dated as the team found 7,000 mural fragments. The 7 Deer fragments were part of 11 wall fragments that were analyzed by the team. There may be older calendar artifacts but they are in stone carvings which cannot be dated.

Live Science has the report here:
https://www.livescience.com/earliest-evidence-maya-calendar