The New Agers and pop culturalists were wrong; Mayan calendars do not predict the end of the world in 2012. And archaeologists can prove it.
They’ve recently unearthed deep-time calendars in Guatemala counting thousands of years into the past and future. The Mayans, a storied star-gazing people, calculated the paths of the planets with their naked eye long before telescopes, tracking the motion of the moon, Venus, and Mars. The calendars provide a peek into how they kept such accurate records of the months, seasons, and years.
One calendar, which charts the transit of Mars and Venus across the sky and back again, spans 7,000 years. It goes well beyond the doomsday forecast for December 21, 2012 (or December 23, depending on who you were listening to).
We’ll need to soldier on, folks, so keep up with your flossing. Unless.
Good old 99942 Apophis, the killer asteroid of 2036, gets us first. Okay, maybe not killer, but still a dangerous asteroid that might could possibly come within striking distance of earth in 2036, thus putting an end to life as we know it. Of course, a number of other things could blow up or collide or erupt or incinerate long before 2036.
Like the Yellowstone Volcano, a suddenly popular apocalyptic possibility. Some are calling it a super volcano. Ooooh. It’s ready to erupt at any moment! Unless you listen to the National Park Service, who says there’s no evidence a catastrophic eruption at Yellowstone National Park is imminent. Current geologic activity remains stable, just as it has since monitoring began back in the 80s. Keep a good thought, nonetheless.
Or someone could push the wrong button, and ka-BOOM. Or all that space junk could plummet to earth at once, all 20,000+ pieces, and ka-BOOM. Or the Cubs could win the World Series, and ka-BOOM. All kinds of possibilities.
Then, too, the world is full of crackpots who enjoy making bizarre predictions, so there will never be a shortage of doomsday scenarios. Or a shortage of doomsday preppers, for that matter.
Copyright © Publikworks 2012.
the whirly girl 
17 responses to “: so much for the mayans :”
I have been looking forward to the end of the Mayan calender…just to see what happens when people go…’oh…we didn’t die?”…. rather like when we began the new century and the world was ending… My upbeat take on it..when/if something happens…other than the natural occuring demise of our own body – it will most likely be instantaneous….there by removing the opportunity for anxiety, doubt, fear.. It does help to live in the day (the live in the moment thing is a stretch for me..most days). Diet if you must. Just remember this…it’s how you treat others that counts… because whatever you’re doing to someone else..you’re actually doing to yourself.
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I’ve been good, rosegram. All these apocalyptic predictions have kept me on my toes, I definitely want to be on Santa’s Nice List should one of these things unexpectedly pan out. Not the Naughty : ) It’s good to hear from from you!
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Thanks. I enjoy reading your blog.
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I hate hearing scary predictions like asteroid demolition and volcano eruption — you know, things that would make storing excess bottled water seem futile.
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I’ll protect you, Angie.
Of the two, I’d prefer the erupting volcano. I might be able to out run that one or climb a tree or swim out far enough in an ocean. The asteroid? Um, no, thanks. I’ll smile and wave when it goes past, though.
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I have wondered how people think that someone could write a calander that went on forever. I mean at some point you have to stop writing. The mayans were killed off, so at some point they had to stop. But I do enjoy a good end of the world crazy town entertainment.
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Me, too, nevercontrary, you can’t beat them. I read somewhere that archaeologists found these calendars on walls inside a structure packed with dirt and surrounded by trenches for centuries. Apparently, the Mayans finished writing their calendars, filled the place with dirt, backed out the door, and left. For some reason that cracks me up. What pranksters!
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It’s madness isn’t it! It’s like people really want these things to happen so they can be like “yep!! I bloody told you so!!” before they are engulfed in a flame of lava/asteroid debris/apocalyptic mess. Sidenote, I went to university with someone who was doing a thesis on doomsday scenarios, pretty interesting!
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I’m of the opinion these doomsayers just don’t want to go alone. They want to take everyone with them. Well, I’m not ready yet, okay? That would be a great thesis, I wish I’d thought of it. Heck, I wish I’d thought of a thesis. Good to see you, suzy! How are things?
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Things are fine thank you! I hope all is well with you? :) x
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All is, indeed, well : )
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I don’t like doom anhd gloom, Lisa. The asteroid – is that real? Don’t answer I don’t want to know. Promise me- If they are able to predict when we are all doomed, and I am still alive and going to witness it, please post as often as possible. You humor will help drown my fear.
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I promise, we’ll die laughing. Literally : ) Thanks for making my day, LD. I owe you.
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Better start that diet then…or I will ka-BOOM.
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Oh, why? The Yellowstone volcano might do something. Not erupt, necessarily, but something.
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I guess I just want to look my best when it happens. Besides, I got picked today to work at the London2012 Olympics and I don’t know if you have seen it or not, but that uniform requires dieting.
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That’s so exciting, Eileen! I haven’t seen the uniform, but you’ll look great. Diet or not : ) Good luck!
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