Early Maya Calendrical Writing Found in Calakmul Mural

A mural from Structure II in the ancient Maya city of Calakmul has been restored, revealing one of the earliest examples of calendrical writing. This discovery highlights Calakmul's significance among major Maya cities that promoted writing and monumental art during the Late Preclassic period. The mural depicts the legendary Juun Ajaw hunting a water creature, alongside a symbol that corresponds to a day marker in the Maya 260-day ritual calendar. Until now, most inscriptions from Calakmul were dated to the Classic period (AD 250–900), with no solid evidence of written language from the Preclassic era found. Daniel Salazar Lama, a specialist in Maya art, noted that this breakthrough indicates a broader cultural evolution for Calakmul.