Alan Hughes Jr., age 15, of Beaumont, Texas, for his question:

WHERE DO THE MAYANS LIVE?

Mayans are a number of North American Indian tribes living in several states in Mexico. The best known tribe, the Maya proper, and after whom the entire group is named, can be found living on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Origin of Mayan civilization goes back to about 1500 B.C. Then in 900 A.D. a number of Mayan centers were mysteriously given up and many of the people migrated into Yucatan. Yucatan is at the tip of the eastern part of Mexico that extends up into the Gulf of Mexico.

Until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the Maya lived chiefly in the Yucatan. A Toltec migration or invasion from the valley of Mexico strongly influenced the civilization.

Chichen Itza and Mayapan were the chief cities. After a time of civil war and revolution, both cities were abandoned. The Spanish easily overcame the Mayans, although the Mexican government did not succeed in subduing the last independent communities until 1901.

Now, in the late 20th century, the Maya make up the bulk of the peasant population of their former lands.

Agriculture made up the basis of the economy before Columbus arrived. Maize was the main crop with cotton, beans and squash also grown.

Spinning, dyeing and weaving cotton were highly perfected by the early Maya. The people also domesticated the dog and the turkey but they had no draft animals nor did they have any wheeled vehicles.

The Maya produced beautiful pottery that was unequaled in the New World outside of Peru. Copper, gold, silver, jade, shell and colorful plumage was used for ornamentation. They did not have any metal tools, however.

The Mayans were ruled by hereditary chiefs.

Remarkable architecture was produced by the Mayan culture. Great ruins can be found in a number of locations including Palenque, Uxmal, Mayapan, Copan, Tikal, Uaxactun and Chichen Itza.

The sites were used for large religious gatherings. A number of pyramidal mounds that were often surrounded by temples or other buildings were grouped around open plazas. The pyramids, built in successive steps, were faced with cut stone blocks and generally had a steep stairway up one or more of the sides.

The pyramids were usually made of earth and rubble although mortared blocks of stone were sometimes used.

Stone walls were often built without mortar. The arch was not known. Windows were not used often and were small and narrow when used. Bright colors were used to paint both the interiors and exteriors of the buildings. Exteriors were heavily decorated with painted sculpture, carved lintels, stucco molding and stone mosaics.