MEXICO: ANCIENT MAYAN CIVILISATION EXHIBITION OPENS

(29 Sep 1998) Spanish/Nat A unique art exhibition of work from the ancient Mayan civilisation has opened in the Mexican capital, Mexico City. Over 300 pre-hispanic pieces of work have been gathered together for the first time from museums throughout Mexico and private collections from all over the world. Exhibition organisers say the collection is the most comprehensive example of Mayan art ever shown. The College of San Ildefonso in Mexico City is the venue for this journey into the ancient cultures of Latin America. Mayan wall-paintings and pottery have been brought together from all over the world to create the largest exhibition of this kind ever held. There are over 300 pieces of work on show which opened on Tuesday. It has taken organisers eight years to bring the exhibition together. It is hoped that visitors will gain an invaluable insight into pre-hispanic culture. Organisers also hope to raise awareness of the theft of Mayan art throughout the world which, though profitable, is destroying the remnants of this ancient civilisation. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Unfortunately the black market exists all over the world . They sell all kinds of art pieces. This is a misfortune not only for archaeological digs or specific collections, but it is also something that affects museums. We recently discovered that very important pieces disappeared in a museum in Australia. I think that this must be a really profitable business for these people, but for different cultures and governments this has become a real tragedy." SUPER CAPTION: Sergio Rivera, Museum Guide The show is called 'Fragments of the Past: Wall Paintings'. It has cost 8 (m) million pesos to set up (1 (m) million U-S dollars). Archaeologists and experts from all over the world are expected to visit the collection over the coming weeks. Many hope to compare the work with that of other ancient societies. To this end Egyptian objects are being flown over from the Metropolitan Museum of New York later in the week. The wall paintings were recovered from ruins of temples, palaces and villages. With lectures being held by professors on Mayan culture, it is hoped the exhibition will attract a mixture of visitors. The Mayans were famed for hieroglyphics, squat temples, and an advanced knowledge of astrology and mathematics. They also developed science and writing to an advanced level. Today over four (m) million Mayan descendants live in small villages scattered throughout the mountains and lowlands of Central America and Mexico. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...