Researchers have identified the name of a Maya mathematician-astronomer for the first time, uncovering the identity of a scholar known as Sak Tahn Waax, or “White-Chested Fox.” The name was discovered within a collection of mathematical formulas inscribed on the walls of a chamber in Xultun, Guatemala.
The findings, published in the journal *Antiquity* on July 14, provide a rare look at the individuals behind the complex astronomical calculations that structured Maya life. According to the research team, led by archaeologist Heather Hurst of Skidmore College, the discovery marks the only known instance of a Classic-period Maya mathematician claiming direct credit for their intellectual work.
A Workspace for Ancient Scholars
The site of Xultun, located about 25 miles northeast of the famous city-state of Tikal, thrived during the Maya Classic Period between 250 and 900 CE. While the site was first reported in 1915, significant archaeological excavation only began in 2008.
The specific mathematical text, designated as “Text 19,” was found in a small masonry building known as Structure 10K-2. Excavations in this chamber, which were originally conducted in 2011, revealed walls painted with human figures and hieroglyphic texts. Researchers suggest this room served as a workspace for scribes during the mid-eighth century CE, where they produced codices and charted celestial movements.
The chamber contains a cluster of approximately 52 “microtexts.” These inscriptions appear to be the “rough drafts” of Maya scholars who worked to reconcile various calendar systems, including the Tzolkin (a 260-day sacred calendar), Uinal (20-day months), Tun (a 360-day year), and cycles related to Mars and Venus.
Decoding the “Mathematical Flex”
Text 19 consists of an L-shaped group of 11 hieroglyphs, standing approximately 10 centimeters tall. According to Hurst, the text expresses relationships between different calendar systems in a manner that appears playful or experimental.
“I think it was a mathematical flex,” Hurst said. “Somebody was saying ‘I’ve got this amazing pattern, and it’s so good it needs to be written down’.”
The formula demonstrates how a 2,920-day cycle could be divided into various calendar units. This specific cycle was significant because it linked key astronomical events, corresponding to five Venus cycles of 584 days each and eight solar years of 365 days each.
The decipherment was challenging because the scribes utilized an abbreviated shorthand, providing only the first half of a notation while leaving the second half implied. To overcome these difficulties, researchers utilized drawings, photographs, and multispectral imaging to enhance the faint, weathered glyphs.
The Identity of Sak Tahn Waax
The breakthrough came when Franco Rossi, an archaeologist at MIT and lead author of the paper, analyzed the penultimate hieroglyph in the set. He identified a phrase meaning “so says,” followed by the name Sak Tahn Waax in the final glyph.
“You can look at some of these texts forever, and it won’t click,” Rossi said. “Then, one day you see it, and it just clicks.”
The attribution is considered significant by experts, as it implies that mathematicians held a recognized status in Maya society. Gerardo Aldana, an anthropologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, noted that the naming suggests these scholars were held in similar regard to artists.
Historical Context and Significance
Mathematics and astronomy were fundamental to the Maya, influencing everything from the inauguration of kings to the timing of monument construction. These calculations were often performed in public forums, where the focus was on the impressive outcomes—such as the coordination of human and celestial events—rather than the complex mechanics behind the math.
The discovery at Xultun offers a glimpse into the “tedious mechanics” that the public rarely saw. By identifying Sak Tahn Waax, researchers have moved beyond viewing these calculations as anonymous achievements, instead recognizing the individual practitioners who engaged in what Hurst describes as “super nerdy math.”
As Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture noted, the glyphs exist in a context where science, art, and everyday life were deeply intertwined. These records, dating from the peak of the Mesoamerican civilization, provide evidence of a culture that valued intellectual curiosity, teaching, and the pursuit of mathematics for its own sake.
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