The Origin of Zero
	We are so accustomed with seeing the perfect circle, the zero that we cannot imagine it had to be invented. In fact, the invention of zero was a real revolution. Imagine how the Romans made calculations. For example, when building a villa, how much did they have to pay for 18 rows of 44 poles of 12 sexterts (Roman coin)? That meant XVIII by XLIV by XII... This calculation took one hour using an abacus. Today, a 10-year old ki ... [read more >>]
	31 March 2008, 10:03GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

The Enigma of the Olmecs
	The Olmecs preceded the Maya culture by about a millennium and represent the oldest complex civilization in the Americas. They were the first to invent a writing system, as revealed by stone (serpentine) blocks, the so-called Cascajal blocks, found in 2006 in Southern Veracruz, Mexico. Their civilization is regarded as "mother" culture for the much more famous Maya and Aztec civilizations. Their culture flourished b ... [read more >>]
	28 February 2008, 09:16GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

The Mystery of the Maya Blue Solved
	A mysterious thick layer of blue pigment was often found at the bottom of many Maya sacrificial sinkholes, called cenotes. The Maya blue was employed for coloring offerings, pottery, murals, and even the victims of ritual sacrifices. The chemical composition of the pigment has been known for long; also its resistance to age, acid, weathering and chemical solvents. "Unlike a lot of natural pigments that may fade, [Maya bl ... [read more >>]
	28 February 2008, 03:16GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

The Secret of the Shiny Mayan Temples Revealed!
	Among the three great civilizations in America before its discovery by Columbus (Aztec, Inca and Maya), the Mayans from Central America were by far the most advanced, culturally and artistically. The Mayans were the sole people of the pre-Hispanic America who created a complex hieroglyphic writing, a counting system, and a calendar forecasting the minimal fixings, their astronomical knowledge overpassing that of the contemporaneous Eur ... [read more >>]
	11 February 2008, 04:48GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

Mayans Sacrificed Boys, not Virgin Girls
	There were three great civilizations in America before its discovery by the Europeans: Aztec, Inca and Maya; but Maya of southern Mexico and Guatemala was by far the most advanced, culturally and artistically. The Maya built complex temples and palaces before the arrival of the Spaniards. The most important Maya cities were: Tikal, Copan, Coba, Chichen Itza, Palenque, Quirigua, and Uxmal. Many cities were pilgrimage religious centers, w ... [read more >>]
	23 January 2008, 02:53GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

Eidos Secures Rights for Tomb Raider Underworld Trademark
	November 21st, 2007 has been confirmed as the date when the renowned video game developer Eidos Interactive filed the "Tomb Raider Underworld" trademark, presumably in relation to a video game. Since Eidos doesn't handle ... [read more >>]
	05 December 2007, 06:12GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

Bloody Maya Rituals Exterminated Large Mammals
	It is a matter of status in Yemen to wear a dagger with rhino horn made handle, or to afford chewing tiger bone penis in China. These customs have put on the brink of extinction those species. Maya rulers made no exception: huge demand for symbolic species explains the decline in big mammals, like jaguars and tapirs, in ancient Central America, as pointed by a new research published in the Journal for Nature Conservation. Over 80,000 a ... [read more >>]
	16 November 2007, 03:44GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

The First iPhone Game from Ojom
	Ojom GmbH, the German-based game developer and global publisher announced the release of its first game for iPhone, specially designed for Apple's device. The game is Maya, Ojom's mobile puzzle success, now coming adapted for iPhone. Its Deluxe version was launched ... [read more >>]
	15 November 2007, 10:10GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

Maya: The "Apocalypto" Civilization
	There were three great civilizations in America before its discovery by the Europeans: Aztec, Inca and Maya; but Maya was by far the most advanced culturally and artistically. Maya civilization developed in the area where nowadays we have Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and southern Mexico, in a mountain area of tropical forests. The clime is rainy, the soil limy and not very proper for agriculture. During the rainy season, the area becom ... [read more >>]
	10 November 2007, 03:47GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

What Did the Mayans Eat?
	They may have been fearsome warriors ripping out the heart of the enemies in complex rituals, but the ancient Maya ate tapioca (manioc starch) some 1,400 years ago. The finding was made at a Maya farm preserved in volcanic ash and explains how the large Mayan cities supported the population boom. "There's a good chance that this will change the way we look at how the Mayans fed themselves," said lead researcher Payson She ... [read more >>]
	21 August 2007, 05:57GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

Mobile Gaming Deal Between Nokia Siemens and Maxis
	Nokia Siemens Networks was chosen by Maxis, a top Malaysian mobile operator, to integrate, host and deliver "Master of Maya" - a brand new interactive mobile game. Ready to be launched at the end of this month, the new game will allow subscribers to use their mobile devices and play online, competing against each other, via the Maxis network. Created by ... [read more >>]
	31 May 2007, 09:43GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia

Unusual Mayan Skeleton Found in an Ancient Tomb
	An entombed human skeleton believed to be of an elite member of the ancient Maya Empire found in Honduras could explain more about the "Apocalypto" civilization. The upright located body, surrounded by shells, pottery, vessels and jade adornments was dated around 650 A.D. and comes with many surprises about the complex culture and political system in Copán, one of the most important Mayan cities, which flourished between the ... [read more >>]
	19 May 2007, 03:56GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia