Author Description

This work introduces the indigenous communities of Central America and their ancient and complex spiritual, cultural, artistic, and architectural traditions. It uses photography and essays to create a cultural portrait of the Maya Indians. One hundred black and white photographs document the remaining fragments of this disappearing society and present a record of the world they inhabit through images of the people, the natural environment, and the historical artifacts of the Maya communities. The ancient Maya left behind evidence of their great prowess in mathematics, astronomy, and architecture, as well as enduring written and oral histories revealing intricate political and social hierarchies and a rich spiritual system. The Maya never truly disappeared, but their society went through many transformations, including the dramatic changes that followed the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. As outside pressures encroach, the Maya strive to maintain their cohesiveness and protect their local traditions and languages. Their cultural and spiritual identities are fundamentally intertwined with the land from which they and their ancestors have coaxed their livelihood for generations, and the survival of the Maya groups is endangered by the degradation and disappearance of their ancestral landscape. These images and descriptions of the evolving Maya and their unique worldview, the intimate and sensitive portraiture, draws readers into the heart of the forests and villages in which the Mayahave been rooted for generations.