A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden Codex

"A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden Codex" by Carl E. Guthe is a scholarly publication written in the early 20th century that explores a specific mathematical series found in the Dresden Codex, one of the few surviving pre-Columbian Mayan manuscripts. This work focuses on the lunar calendar and its correlation with astronomical phenomena, primarily the synodical months of the moon, aiming to decode and analyze the numerical sequences recorded over several pages. The book offers a detailed analysis of a series of numbers spanning 11,960 days, broken down into various groups that reflect lunar cycles. Guthe delineates how these numbers relate to the synodical revolutions of the moon, particularly emphasizing groups that span 148, 177, and 178 days. Throughout, the author discusses discrepancies and errors within the manuscript, suggesting that many irregularities result from transcription mistakes rather than design flaws, further reinforcing the hypothesis that the series serves as an eclipse calendar intertwined with the lunar calendar. By doing so, this publication contributes significantly to the understanding of Mayan astronomy and calendrical systems, providing insights into the intricate ways the Maya engaged with natural cycles. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Carl Eugen Guthe was an American academic and anthropologist, son of Karl Eugen Guthe, Professor of Physics and Dean of the Graduate Department of the University of Michigan, and Clara Belle née Ware of Grand Rapids, Mich. Guthe married Grace Ethel 12 September 1916 in Wayne, MI and they had three sons: Karl Frederick, Alfred Kidder, and James. Karl Frederick Guthe (1919–1994) was professor emeritus of biological sciences at the University of Michigan. Alfred Kidder Guthe (1920–1983) specialised in the archaeology of the US eastern seaboard, and became director of the Frank H. McClung museum at U Tennessee.