Writing was independently invented in five areas of the ancient world: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, the Indus Valley, and Mesoamerica. Of these, the Maya glyphic system stands out for its creation of syllabic and pictorial writing, in the most visually diverse scripts ever conceived. The writing was recorded on a wide variety of media that include ceramics, stone, wood, shell, textiles, animal hides, and screen-fold codex books. Although most of the materials are lost forever due to decay and destruction, much of this priceless literary cultural heritage survives on Maya vessels and artifacts.
- Fleur-de-lys Vase with Primary Standard Sequence Glyph Band
- Vase with Seated Ruler and Dwarf
- Vessel with TeotihuacÁn-Maya War and Sacrifice Themes
- Vase with Hunting Scene
- Vase with Palace Scene
- Carved Underworld Scene and Five Hieroglyphs
- Cache Vessel with Applied God Heads
- Ballgame Yoke in Form of Toad
