Few ancient cultures in America produced the achievements of the Classic Maya culture. The architecture, arts, astronomy, and mathematics of these people surprise even the most learned. Numerical, calendar and historical features occur in Maya writing.

Aspects of the culture that usually have no archaeological record, such as the names of deities, the bloody rituals of the elite Maya, biographies of their rulers and respective families, military political alliances and wars have been revealed.

Writing had a social character, since it did not record the lives of farmers, businessmen, artisans and stonemasons.