The great Mayan culture had a remarkable number system that dates from the 4th century, and gave them an outstanding way of counting without needing to know how to read or write.  Some believe the Mayan culture  was 1,000 years more advanced than the Europeans at that time, making them geniuses in calendars, astronomy and architecture of which grand examples can be observed in Chichen Itza.    

The ancient Mayan priests came up with a system of enumeration based on the position of values and the use of the mathematical concept of the “zero”, one of the greatest mathematical advancements in history.  The number system of the Mayan culture was based on 20, which is the total number of digits on human’s hands and feet, or simply the double of our own decimal counting system (10). This 20-based system helped them use bigger and longer numbers that we use.   

The Mayas use to count by dots and lines. The zero was represented by a shell, and the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 were made out by dots depending on the amount; 1 (one dot), 2 (two dots) until reaching number 5, which changes into one line. Dots would be made out of pebbles, and lines out of short sticks.  

Number 6 is one dot plus a line underneath; number 7 is 2 dots plus a line; number 8 is 3 dots plus a line; and number 9 is 4 dots plus a line. Number 10 was made out of two lines, and 20 instead of being 4 lines was the starting point of a new count above the first one. Like zero is a shell, number 20 is a single dot above a shell and the following numbers continue from the bottom to top in two rows vertically.

Travel Tip: If you head to the Mayan archaeological sites in your next Cancun vacation or to the Riviera Maya don´t miss the symbols and hieroglyphs inscripted on the temples.