The following passage is adapted from an article on the history of Mayanist scholarship, focusing on the decipherment of ancient glyphs.
[Paragraph 1] (lines 1–11)
Tatiana Proskouriakoff’s work in the mid-twentieth century fundamentally altered our understanding of Maya hieroglyphs. Before her breakthrough, the prevailing consensus among Mayanists was that the glyphs were primarily astronomical calculations and mystical symbols, disconnected from historical reality. This view was championed by J. Eric S. Thompson, the dominant figure in the field at the time, who argued that the Maya were a peaceful people ruled by priests obsessed with time. Proskouriakoff, an artist and architect by training, brought a different perspective, viewing the inscriptions with a keen eye for structural patterns rather than preconceived theological interpretations.
[Paragraph 2] (lines 12–21)
Her crucial discovery came while analyzing the monumental stone pillars, or stelae, at the ruins of Piedras Negras. She noticed that the stelae were erected in distinct series, each associated with a specific plaza or temple. Within each series, the dates carved into the stones spanned a period of no more than sixty years—a duration roughly equivalent to a typical human lifespan. Furthermore, the first stela in each group always featured a motif showing a figure seated in a niche, which she hypothesized represented an accession to the throne, followed later by glyphs marking war and marriage.
[Paragraph 3] (lines 22–31)
This finding led to the realization that the stelae were not abstract treatises on time, but rather historical records of royal dynasties. The glyphs recorded the actual births, accessions, military victories, and deaths of Maya rulers. By demonstrating that the inscriptions documented historical events and individuals, Proskouriakoff dismantled the myth of the timeless, mystical Maya. Her empirical, pattern-based approach paved the way for subsequent epigraphers to fully decipher the script, transforming the Maya from a civilization of speculation into one with a rich, recorded history.
Match each of the three paragraphs from the passage to its corresponding main idea.
- Paragraph 1 (lines 1–11)An overview of the scientific consensus regarding Maya glyphs before Proskouriakoff’s work and how her background influenced her perspective.
- Paragraph 2 (lines 12–21)A description of the specific evidence and patterns Proskouriakoff observed that led to her hypothesis about the stelae's dates.
- Paragraph 3 (lines 22–31)An explanation of the historical significance of Proskouriakoff’s discovery and its role in enabling the decipherment of the Maya script.