many years ago when I first moved to Seattle my husband vichy my eldest
Seattle my husband vichy my eldest
Seattle my husband vichy my eldest brother rich and his wife Karen and I
brother rich and his wife Karen and I
brother rich and his wife Karen and I all went to Olympic National Park we
all went to Olympic National Park we
all went to Olympic National Park we wanted to experience the natural beauty
wanted to experience the natural beauty
wanted to experience the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest we thoroughly
of the Pacific Northwest we thoroughly
of the Pacific Northwest we thoroughly enjoyed our daytime activity of hiking
enjoyed our daytime activity of hiking
enjoyed our daytime activity of hiking through the rainforest but at night it
through the rainforest but at night it
through the rainforest but at night it was so dark that it seemed like there
was so dark that it seemed like there
was so dark that it seemed like there are million twinkling stars shining down
are million twinkling stars shining down
are million twinkling stars shining down upon us it was stunning
upon us it was stunning
upon us it was stunning this experience reminded me of my
this experience reminded me of my
this experience reminded me of my childhood nights when my siblings and I
childhood nights when my siblings and I
childhood nights when my siblings and I would venture outdoors to identify
would venture outdoors to identify
would venture outdoors to identify planets and constellations from our very
planets and constellations from our very
planets and constellations from our very own backyard gazing at the Stars has
own backyard gazing at the Stars has
own backyard gazing at the Stars has always made me feel at one with the
always made me feel at one with the
always made me feel at one with the universe and very humble for the tiny
universe and very humble for the tiny
universe and very humble for the tiny part that I play on this planet this
part that I play on this planet this
part that I play on this planet this humbling experience is one that I think
humbling experience is one that I think
humbling experience is one that I think we share with each other
we share with each other
we share with each other and all the humans who have gone before
and all the humans who have gone before
and all the humans who have gone before us seeing the stars makes my troubles
us seeing the stars makes my troubles
us seeing the stars makes my troubles dissipate and life is good for me the
dissipate and life is good for me the
dissipate and life is good for me the night is essential because it provides
night is essential because it provides
night is essential because it provides balance and perspective to my daily
balance and perspective to my daily
balance and perspective to my daily routine as an archaeologist I look to
routine as an archaeologist I look to
routine as an archaeologist I look to such experiences to find connections
such experiences to find connections
such experiences to find connections with people who have lived in other
with people who have lived in other
with people who have lived in other times and other places there are a lot
times and other places there are a lot
times and other places there are a lot of misconceptions about what archaeology
of misconceptions about what archaeology
of misconceptions about what archaeology is the main goal is to understand and
is the main goal is to understand and
is the main goal is to understand and reconstruct the vast array of human
reconstruct the vast array of human
reconstruct the vast array of human cultures some of which have disappeared
cultures some of which have disappeared
cultures some of which have disappeared we can do that better by studying
we can do that better by studying
we can do that better by studying ancient nights think about all of the
ancient nights think about all of the
ancient nights think about all of the things that you do at night and how they
things that you do at night and how they
things that you do at night and how they differ substantially from what you do
differ substantially from what you do
differ substantially from what you do during the day sleeping sex socializing
during the day sleeping sex socializing
during the day sleeping sex socializing partying sneaking around all of those
partying sneaking around all of those
partying sneaking around all of those things come to mind if we don’t study
things come to mind if we don’t study
things come to mind if we don’t study the night we’re missing out on all of
the night we’re missing out on all of
the night we’re missing out on all of those activities
those activities
those activities much more if you think of tourists they
much more if you think of tourists they
much more if you think of tourists they typically visit sites during the day and
typically visit sites during the day and
typically visit sites during the day and archeologists typically excavate sites
archeologists typically excavate sites
archeologists typically excavate sites during the day and all of that allows us
during the day and all of that allows us
during the day and all of that allows us to envision what it’s like to live
to envision what it’s like to live
to envision what it’s like to live during the day in the past we typically
during the day in the past we typically
during the day in the past we typically do not experience archaeological sites
do not experience archaeological sites
do not experience archaeological sites at night so we typically do not think
at night so we typically do not think
at night so we typically do not think about what ancient people did at night
about what ancient people did at night
about what ancient people did at night either this imbalance is analogous to
either this imbalance is analogous to
either this imbalance is analogous to archeologists including only men in
archeologists including only men in
archeologists including only men in their reconstructions of the past and no
their reconstructions of the past and no
their reconstructions of the past and no other genders what about everybody else
other genders what about everybody else
other genders what about everybody else the archaeology of the night is
the archaeology of the night is
the archaeology of the night is essential to provide balance and
essential to provide balance and
essential to provide balance and perspective to our reconstructions of
perspective to our reconstructions of
perspective to our reconstructions of the past but this idea is a radical one
the past but this idea is a radical one
the past but this idea is a radical one because it previously has not been done
because it previously has not been done
because it previously has not been done in archaeology before I have spent a
in archaeology before I have spent a
in archaeology before I have spent a good deal of my professional life
good deal of my professional life
good deal of my professional life researching the everyday lives of the
researching the everyday lives of the
researching the everyday lives of the common people who lived in ancient Maya
common people who lived in ancient Maya
common people who lived in ancient Maya societies of Central America and Mexico
societies of Central America and Mexico
societies of Central America and Mexico they left behind a remarkable record of
they left behind a remarkable record of
they left behind a remarkable record of their life way they built grand temple
their life way they built grand temple
their life way they built grand temple pyramids and palaces and ball courts
pyramids and palaces and ball courts
pyramids and palaces and ball courts monuments and altars and thousands of
monuments and altars and thousands of
monuments and altars and thousands of houses in their cities in the tropics
houses in their cities in the tropics
houses in their cities in the tropics during a time period that we
during a time period that we
during a time period that we archaeologists refer to as the classic
archaeologists refer to as the classic
archaeologists refer to as the classic the classic period is dated from about
the classic period is dated from about
the classic period is dated from about AD 250 to 900 until now our
AD 250 to 900 until now our
AD 250 to 900 until now our reconstructions of the Classic Maya have
reconstructions of the Classic Maya have
reconstructions of the Classic Maya have favored the day so how did the Classic
favored the day so how did the Classic
favored the day so how did the Classic Maya experience the night and how do we
Maya experience the night and how do we
Maya experience the night and how do we as archaeologists know artifacts and
as archaeologists know artifacts and
as archaeologists know artifacts and architecture will tell us as well as art
architecture will tell us as well as art
architecture will tell us as well as art and the ancient writings of the Maya
and the ancient writings of the Maya
and the ancient writings of the Maya themselves and their descendants the
themselves and their descendants the
themselves and their descendants the Classic Maya simultaneously feared and
Classic Maya simultaneously feared and
Classic Maya simultaneously feared and revered the night their nightscape was
revered the night their nightscape was
revered the night their nightscape was full of
full of
full of tropical fantastical beings real and
tropical fantastical beings real and
tropical fantastical beings real and imagined where Jaguars roamed and
imagined where Jaguars roamed and
imagined where Jaguars roamed and fantastical beings populated the dark
fantastical beings populated the dark
fantastical beings populated the dark darkness was not just the absence of
darkness was not just the absence of
darkness was not just the absence of light but represented the time before
light but represented the time before
light but represented the time before creation the night was wild and untamed
creation the night was wild and untamed
creation the night was wild and untamed the Classic Maya are well known to have
the Classic Maya are well known to have
the Classic Maya are well known to have been expert astronomers today the field
been expert astronomers today the field
been expert astronomers today the field of cultural astronomy attests well to
of cultural astronomy attests well to
of cultural astronomy attests well to their sophistication in such matters
their sophistication in such matters
their sophistication in such matters what happened in the night sky did not
what happened in the night sky did not
what happened in the night sky did not just stay in the night sky for there
just stay in the night sky for there
just stay in the night sky for there were dire consequences on this earth
seeing the stars the planets the
seeing the stars the planets the constellations of Milky Way the moon one
constellations of Milky Way the moon one
constellations of Milky Way the moon one could tell whether it was time to plant
could tell whether it was time to plant
could tell whether it was time to plant crops or wage war for it was written in
crops or wage war for it was written in
crops or wage war for it was written in the stars like us most of the Classic
the stars like us most of the Classic
the stars like us most of the Classic Maya would have spent most of their
Maya would have spent most of their
Maya would have spent most of their nights at home so we need to examine the
nights at home so we need to examine the
nights at home so we need to examine the remains of their houses this focus is
remains of their houses this focus is
remains of their houses this focus is called household archaeology the factors
called household archaeology the factors
called household archaeology the factors of age and gender and class affected
of age and gender and class affected
of age and gender and class affected ones housing but also one’s experience
ones housing but also one’s experience
ones housing but also one’s experience of the night your time spent at home at
of the night your time spent at home at
of the night your time spent at home at night was moderated by whether you were
night was moderated by whether you were
night was moderated by whether you were a child or an adult a man or a woman a
a child or an adult a man or a woman a
a child or an adult a man or a woman a commoner or a noble for there was
commoner or a noble for there was
commoner or a noble for there was inequality in the ancient night the
inequality in the ancient night the
inequality in the ancient night the privileged few spent their nights in
privileged few spent their nights in
privileged few spent their nights in grand palaces built of stone that
grand palaces built of stone that
grand palaces built of stone that securely kept them tucked away from the
securely kept them tucked away from the
securely kept them tucked away from the dangers of the dark and offered a
dangers of the dark and offered a
dangers of the dark and offered a reprieve from the public once inside
reprieve from the public once inside
reprieve from the public once inside they could safely light indoor fires
they could safely light indoor fires
they could safely light indoor fires contained in ceramic vessels that warded
contained in ceramic vessels that warded
contained in ceramic vessels that warded off the dampness of the dark and any
off the dampness of the dark and any
off the dampness of the dark and any beings that roamed around
beings that roamed around
beings that roamed around the nobles reclined on built-in benches
the nobles reclined on built-in benches
the nobles reclined on built-in benches made more comfortable for them with
made more comfortable for them with
made more comfortable for them with finely woven cloth and curtains for
finely woven cloth and curtains for
finely woven cloth and curtains for privacy the classic Maya also wrote
privacy the classic Maya also wrote
privacy the classic Maya also wrote about the night they ritualized the
about the night they ritualized the
about the night they ritualized the night and they sanctified the night a
night and they sanctified the night a
night and they sanctified the night a precious offering of blood was made by
precious offering of blood was made by
precious offering of blood was made by lady shook Queen of yashi lon her
lady shook Queen of yashi lon her
lady shook Queen of yashi lon her husband King it’s a novel um the third
husband King it’s a novel um the third
husband King it’s a novel um the third assisted her by wielding a large heavy
assisted her by wielding a large heavy
assisted her by wielding a large heavy torch that illuminated the darkness on
torch that illuminated the darkness on
torch that illuminated the darkness on the evening of this performance on
the evening of this performance on
the evening of this performance on Sunday October 24th ad 709 the waxing
Sunday October 24th ad 709 the waxing
Sunday October 24th ad 709 the waxing moon was 90% illuminated lending
moon was 90% illuminated lending
moon was 90% illuminated lending additional brightness to this act of
additional brightness to this act of
additional brightness to this act of devotion the classic Maya also
devotion the classic Maya also
devotion the classic Maya also celebrated the night and one way to do
celebrated the night and one way to do
celebrated the night and one way to do that is with chocolate they recorded the
that is with chocolate they recorded the
that is with chocolate they recorded the ceremony of King on Ock the second ruler
ceremony of King on Ock the second ruler
ceremony of King on Ock the second ruler of Piedras Negras and a member of the
of Piedras Negras and a member of the
of Piedras Negras and a member of the turtle dynasty in AD 749 this turtle
turtle dynasty in AD 749 this turtle
turtle dynasty in AD 749 this turtle Lord celebrated the 20th anniversary of
Lord celebrated the 20th anniversary of
Lord celebrated the 20th anniversary of his reign by dancing at midnight and
his reign by dancing at midnight and
his reign by dancing at midnight and imbibing a hot inebriating chocolate
imbibing a hot inebriating chocolate
imbibing a hot inebriating chocolate drink what about the commoners how did
drink what about the commoners how did
drink what about the commoners how did they experience the night their
they experience the night their
they experience the night their residences were far more common on the
residences were far more common on the
residences were far more common on the landscape but they were constructed of
landscape but they were constructed of
landscape but they were constructed of perishable materials like the one
perishable materials like the one
perishable materials like the one featured in this photograph the
featured in this photograph the
featured in this photograph the commoners are the ones who built the
commoners are the ones who built the
commoners are the ones who built the temples where the royal people
temples where the royal people
temples where the royal people worshipped and buried their dead the
worshipped and buried their dead the
worshipped and buried their dead the commoners are the ones who built the
commoners are the ones who built the
commoners are the ones who built the palaces where the rich lived the
palaces where the rich lived the
palaces where the rich lived the commoners are the ones who built
commoners are the ones who built
commoners are the ones who built everything else in their society and
everything else in their society and
everything else in their society and nourished the nobles with the food that
nourished the nobles with the food that
nourished the nobles with the food that they grew there is no writing to tell us
they grew there is no writing to tell us
they grew there is no writing to tell us about this however nor whether these
about this however nor whether these
about this however nor whether these activities occurred during the day or
activities occurred during the day or
activities occurred during the day or the night however this constraint should
the night however this constraint should
the night however this constraint should not limit us
not limit us
not limit us evidence for ancient Knights has always
evidence for ancient Knights has always
evidence for ancient Knights has always been there but our perception of it has
been there but our perception of it has
been there but our perception of it has not we can use everyday artifacts and
not we can use everyday artifacts and
not we can use everyday artifacts and features to tell us about the night a
features to tell us about the night a
features to tell us about the night a hearth during the day is essential for
hearth during the day is essential for
hearth during the day is essential for cooking but at night it’s transformed
cooking but at night it’s transformed
cooking but at night it’s transformed for socialising and warmth the earthen
for socialising and warmth the earthen
for socialising and warmth the earthen floor of a humble house was a work
floor of a humble house was a work
floor of a humble house was a work platform by day but at night bringing
platform by day but at night bringing
platform by day but at night bringing out the sleeping mats it became a place
out the sleeping mats it became a place
out the sleeping mats it became a place for sleep we can also use the present to
for sleep we can also use the present to
for sleep we can also use the present to tell us about the past I’m thinking of
tell us about the past I’m thinking of
tell us about the past I’m thinking of the numerous studies that
the numerous studies that
the numerous studies that anthropologists have conducted on
anthropologists have conducted on
anthropologists have conducted on contemporary Maya agriculturalists and
contemporary Maya agriculturalists and
contemporary Maya agriculturalists and if you know anything about farming a
if you know anything about farming a
if you know anything about farming a farmer’s work is never done
farmer’s work is never done
farmer’s work is never done day or night there are tasks to be
day or night there are tasks to be
day or night there are tasks to be accomplished we can envision Classic
accomplished we can envision Classic
accomplished we can envision Classic Maya women involved in the laborious
Maya women involved in the laborious
Maya women involved in the laborious process of preparing maize and beans for
process of preparing maize and beans for
process of preparing maize and beans for the next day’s meals and settling and
the next day’s meals and settling and
the next day’s meals and settling and infants and children for the night
infants and children for the night
infants and children for the night likewise men would have been involved in
likewise men would have been involved in
likewise men would have been involved in provisioning the household
provisioning the household
provisioning the household perhaps they were in the mill pose the
perhaps they were in the mill pose the
perhaps they were in the mill pose the corn fields but darkness was ideal for
corn fields but darkness was ideal for
corn fields but darkness was ideal for deer hunting once performing the
deer hunting once performing the
deer hunting once performing the appropriate rituals to ensure their
appropriate rituals to ensure their
appropriate rituals to ensure their success men would set out on the hunt
success men would set out on the hunt
success men would set out on the hunt the moon goddess astride her deer
the moon goddess astride her deer
the moon goddess astride her deer watched over them there are many
watched over them there are many
watched over them there are many similarities that we modern humans have
similarities that we modern humans have
similarities that we modern humans have with the ancient Maya in terms of the
with the ancient Maya in terms of the
with the ancient Maya in terms of the night but there are also some very
night but there are also some very
night but there are also some very serious differences and one of them is
serious differences and one of them is
serious differences and one of them is the degree of nighttime darkness in the
the degree of nighttime darkness in the
the degree of nighttime darkness in the tropics night seems to come very quickly
tropics night seems to come very quickly
tropics night seems to come very quickly as the Sun sets abruptly below the
as the Sun sets abruptly below the
as the Sun sets abruptly below the horizon and in the tropics night and day
horizon and in the tropics night and day
horizon and in the tropics night and day are nearly equal length year round the
are nearly equal length year round the
are nearly equal length year round the classic Maya would not recognize our
classic Maya would not recognize our
classic Maya would not recognize our modern nights we have learned a lot
modern nights we have learned a lot
modern nights we have learned a lot about the classic Maya by looking at the
about the classic Maya by looking at the
about the classic Maya by looking at the night because it has
night because it has
night because it has added balance and perspective to our
added balance and perspective to our
added balance and perspective to our reconstruction of their life way but we
reconstruction of their life way but we
reconstruction of their life way but we should be concerned about our modern
should be concerned about our modern
should be concerned about our modern nights so bright and intense are the
nights so bright and intense are the
nights so bright and intense are the city lights that they drowned out the
city lights that they drowned out the
city lights that they drowned out the wonder of the nighttime sky these lights
wonder of the nighttime sky these lights
wonder of the nighttime sky these lights are so abundant that they can be seen
are so abundant that they can be seen
are so abundant that they can be seen from deep dark outerspace
from deep dark outerspace
from deep dark outerspace we need our nighttime stars as much as
we need our nighttime stars as much as
we need our nighttime stars as much as we need our daytime star to provide
we need our daytime star to provide
we need our daytime star to provide balance and perspective to our lives the
balance and perspective to our lives the
balance and perspective to our lives the visibility of the Stars symbolizes our
visibility of the Stars symbolizes our
visibility of the Stars symbolizes our connections to each other to the past
connections to each other to the past
connections to each other to the past into the future so when you leave here
into the future so when you leave here
into the future so when you leave here tonight go outside seek out a place
tonight go outside seek out a place
tonight go outside seek out a place where you can see the stars and think
where you can see the stars and think
where you can see the stars and think about what the night means to you thank
about what the night means to you thank
about what the night means to you thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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