Exploring Maya Astronomy

Who discovered the Maya's use of a cave as an astronomical observatory?

• Modern archaeologists

• A National Geographic team

• Ancient Maya priests

• Don Slater

What aligns with the sunrise on the day of the Zenith passage?

• The cave entrance

• A pyramid

• A mountain

• A river

What did the alignment of the pyramid with the Zenith passage sunrise likely serve?

• A decorative purpose

• Both B and C

• A religious function

• An agricultural calendar

How often does the Zenith passage occur?

• Once a year

• Twice a year

• Four times a year

• Every month

Who likely had access to the observatory during the Zenith passage?

• Farmers

• Only the elite

• Everyone in the community

• Children

Why was access to the observatory likely restricted?

• Due to its dangerous location

• To preserve its sacredness

• Limited space

• All of the above

What did the Maya believe about the caves?

• Both B and C

• They were dangerous to enter

• They were sacred spaces

• They were ordinary places

What risks were associated with entering the caves?

• Upsetting deities

• Getting lost

• Physical injury

• All of the above

What was the primary purpose of Slater's research?

• To understand the caves' role in Maya society

• To find ancient artifacts

• To study cave animals

• To map the cave systems

How did modern lighting change the exploration of caves?

• Made it more dangerous

• Revealed unseen details

• Had no effect

• Discouraged exploration