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Origin of the Mesoamerican 260-Day Calendar

Vincent H. MalmstromAuthors Info & Affiliations
Science
7 Sep 1973
Vol 181, Issue 4103
pp. 939-941
DOI: 10.1126/science.181.4103.939
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Abstract

The sacred 260-day Mesoamerican calendar probably originated near a latitude of 15°N, where there is a 260-day interval between transits of the zenithal sun. Archeological and faunal evidence favors an origin in the Pacific lowlands rather than in the highlands near Copán, Honduras, although Copán, which is located at the 15th parallel of latitude, later became the principal Mayan astronomical center.

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