What led to the collapse of the great Mayan civilization of Central America? Using high tech satellite and LiDAR images, Keith Prufer, associate professor, UNM Department of Anthropology, and his students peer through the dense jungle canopy to discover ancient Mayan ruins. What they found is fascinating.
Connect airs Thursday, May 24 at 7 p.m. on New Mexico PBS 5.1. Each month, New Mexico PBS connects audiences to the great people and inspired thinking found at the University of New Mexico.
Next, Patricia L. Crown, distinguished professor, UNM Department of Anthropology, has found evidence of chocolate inside one thousand year old cylindrical jars from Pueblo Bonito. Commonly traded throughout Mesoamerica, Crown's findings are the first concrete evidence that the people of Chaco traded for cacao beans.
In the viewer question, Mark Boslough, adjunct professor, UNM Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, uses the RedSky supercomputer at Sandia National Labs to discover what might happen if an Asteroid explodes close to the Earth.
• Keith Malcolm Prufer, associate professor, UNM Department of Anthropology
• Patricia L. Crown, distinguished professor, UNM Department of Anthropology
• Mark Boslough, adjunct professor, UNM Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
• Augusta Meyers
Watch again online at Connect. Additionally, get updates, watch and follow NM PBS Facebook, Twitter, YouTube & more.
"Connect" is produced by Brad Stoddard and executive producer, Michael Kamins. Production support provided by UNM.
Media Contact: Evy Todd, (505) 277-1218; email: email@example.com
New Mexico PBS' "Connect" Features Discovery of Ancient Mayan Ruins
May 21, 2012