The kingdoms and city states of the ancient Maya have mostly been lost to time. But only now are we beginning to understand just how much has been lost. What we formerly knew as islands of stone ruins and step pyramids in a sea of cloud forest is now being revealed as a much larger and more developed civilization throughout the southern regions of Mesoamerica. Focusing on two new discoveries in the Yucatán Peninsula and Guatemala, this episode seeks to reframe the narrative we have constructed on the eras of Mayan development and integrates the new discoveries into our wider understanding. At least, that's the goal! The enigmatic complexity of these forgotten kingdoms is as difficult to excavate as their physical remains. Compelled to apologize for my pronunciations of various Mayan languages, I hope they can be received in the spirit they are offered: as an outsider's earnest attempt to understand better the history and culture of the ancient Maya. ALSO -- For anyone who might enjoy the narration of DW Draffin and want to hear the fiction that he also writes and performs, please head over to his personal website https://dwdraff.in and navigate to the first chapter of his four volume novel LISICA, a Scientist soap opera on a mysterious island in the North Pacific. The episodes are posted weekly for free without ads. It is science and love and beauty and escapism all rolled into one, so that we may all survive 2024 with some shreds of humanity and sanity. To support the SAMA channel, become a Patron and make history matter! Patreon: https://patreon.com/make_history_matter?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Donate directly to PayPal: https://paypal.me/NickBarksdale !!!!!!!!!!Above and beyond all -- visit this link to the gofundme for the family of our dear departed founder Nick Barksdale!!!!!!!!!! https://gofund.me/024e3f29