What's new in Copan?
The biggest buzz in Copan right now is about the upcoming Copan International Congress, July 12, 13,14th, 2001. It is titled "Science, Art and Religion in the Mundo Maya" and is sponsored by Archaeology Magazine, The Honduras Institute of Tourism and the Copan Association. Twenty-one international scholars will come to Copan to discuss how modern technology is helping us learn about the ancient Maya, how the Maya have influenced us in math, astronomy and literature and how the modern Maya teach us about the ancient Maya.
Find out details by calling the Honduras Institute of Tourism at 1-800-410-9608 or e-mail tourisminfo@iht.hn, www.letsgohonduras.com (click on "International Conferences") or call US travel agent, Far Horizons, at 800-552-4575 or go to www.farhorizons.com and click on "conferences". Tickets are going very fast! Call now for reservations.
At the Congress, the Copan Maya Foundation will sponsor tours of the in-progress Casa K'inich, childrens' space, and you will have the chance to speak with the exhibit designers. The Foundation will have our board meeting on July 15th in Copan.
Casa K'inich is under construction
This
center would serve the existing 30,000 Honduran children who come to Copan
anually. It would provide much needed education for students and teachers
about the cultural, social and ecological aspects of this region’s
important ancient and contemporary history. Needs: physical building,
exhibits, training of teachers, guides/docents, and guidebooks.
New
Royal Tomb discovered
While Japanese archaeologist Seiichi Nakamura was doing routine salvage
archaeology on a perimeter road, he came upon a tremendous royal tomb
replete with jade pectorals, carved jade figures and numerous carved stone
offerings. Some of the excavated materials are on view in the local Copan
Ruinas museum. A fabulous new find!
Queen of Spain visited Copan
On her most recent trip to Central America, Queen Sophia of Spain made a special effort to visit Copan. She was toured around the site by Honduran archaeologist, Ricardo Agurcia Fasquelle. Upon touring the Queen of Spain around the sculptures of the kings of Copan, Agurcia helped Queen Sophia understand the ancient Maya and their tremendous contributions.