SACRAMENTO — The image of a “Jester god,” a symbol of royalty among the ancient Maya, may have done just the trick. Some archaeologists suggest its discovery has helped identify the oldest known burial site for a Maya ruler.

The ancient Maya filled Central America with pyramid-dotted cities prior to a drawn-out abandonment of such sites around 850 A.D., one of archaeology’s most storied mysteries. The unexpected find from the archaeological site of K’o (Kuh-OH) in modern-day Guatemala, reported here at the Society for American Archaeology meeting, pushes the first known Maya ruler, or “Ajaw,” back two centuries to around 350 B.C. Read more.

A delegation from MAI is scheduled to travel to Guatemala for a round of meetings with government officials in April 2011. On the agenda is the creation of a digital database of National Museum holdings and numerous media events regarding recent advancement in Maya archaeology yet to be published. Also, plans are in place for a 2012 Maya exhibit. To learn more, follow our progress on facebook.

W.H. “Buzz” Fawcett, a Washington attorney with several decades of experience in government affairs, has joined the Maya Archaeoly Initiative Initiative. Fawcett has maintained a lifelong interest in Mesoamerican history and brings needed experience governmental experience to the board. Fawcett is a graduate of the University of Southern California and is a former district attorney in Boise, Idaho, and a former chief of staff for a U.S. Senator. The board elected Fawcett unanimously in January 2011

Roger Lyon has been elected an honorary Board Member Emeritus. A highly successful environmental attorney and MAI advisor, Lyon was killed while flying his private plane to Mexico to set up a free health clinic for the Flying Samaritans.  Lyon left a considerable mark on environmental matters in California. An avid surfer, he was lead negotiator for the preservation of a 21-mile stretch of California coastline south of Big Sur.  Lyon focused his practice on negotiating complex land conservation projects and founded the Cayucos Land Conservancy, which has protected four miles of California coastline. He received the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award in 2009.  Roger’s wife Susan and their family own and operate Cottontail Creek Ranch in Cayucos, California (www.cottontailcreek.com).

New book to be released Jan 3, 2011: The First Maya Civilization. Ritual and Power before the Classic Period, by Francisco Estrada-Belli (MAI co-founder). Available now with 22% discount at Amazon.com