MONDAY

Lost Kingdoms of the Maya, National Geographic

Long before Columbus, the Maya established one of the most highly developed civilizations of their time in the jungles of Mexico and Central America. Yet this advanced society of priests, astronomers, artisans, and farmers suddenly and mysteriously collapsed more than a thousand years ago. Accompany archaeologists to Copan, Dos Pilas and other spectacular Classic Maya ruins as they unearth artifacts and huge temples of incredible beauty. Recently deciphered hieroglyphs and other new discoveries offer astounding clues to the lives of these ancient people. You'll hear the startling story of one kingdom's downfall and its final desperate hours of violent warfare. Through spine-tingling recreations, witness ancient rituals reenacted on sites where they originally occurred. And meet the enduring Maya who still maintain many of their ancestor's traditions. You'll hear the voices of a magnificent civilization as you uncover Lost Kingdoms of the Maya.

TUESDAY

Lost King of the Maya, Nova

From 200 to 900 A.D., the dynasty of the Blood Lords presided over the Maya city of Copan, conducting hallucinogenic vision quests, ritual warfare and human sacrifice. Generations of scholars have dismissed the story of Yax K'uk Mo as pure myth. But today, deep in the lush Honduran rain forest, a team of archaeologists and historians are piecing together a more complete look at the fascinating rise and fall of Copan civilization and Yak K'uk Mo's pivotal role as founder.

Travel back 1600 years and discover the ancient Mayans' sophisticated intellect, astronomical, abilities and complex culture. Explore Copan's beautifully carved monuments, magnificent temples and large pyramids, and discover why the lost city if referred to as 'the Athens of Central America.' Find out why the success of the Copan dynasty ultimately led to its downfall. And investigate whether new discoveries will transform the legend of Yax K'uk Mo from myth to reality.

WEDNESDAY

Maya, Lords of the Jungle, Odyssey, PBS

In the lush tropical rain forests of Central America lie the secrets of a lost civilization. Shrouded for centuries in unanswered questions, the awesome ruins of the Mayan empire hold the clues to one of the world's great mysteries.

This program takes us on a fascinating journey, leading us inside the splendid temples and majestic monuments of the Maya. Our guides are experts in decoding the intricate carvings which tell the tale of these enormously successful people, whose empire stretched across five countries.

THURSDAY

The Mexican Celebration of the Days of the Dead - Food for the Ancestors, PBS

Each fall, Mexicans celebrate a weeklong holiday called Days of the Dead. The festival honors the memories of loved ones who have died. No celebration describes the Mexican culture as this one: sad, joyful and satirical all at the same time. Food for the Ancestors explores this fabulous festival as it is done in the culturally rich state of Puebla. Among the many things that we see during the week of Days of the Dead are Mask Dancing by the children of Cuetzalan and the spectacular Dance of the Volodores performed on a 60 foot pole; the indigenous village of San Miguel where waistlooms are used to make beautiful fabrics, and potters use Prehispanic techniques; the fantastic Cholula Pyramid surrounded by fields filled with Marigolds, the ancient flowers of the dead; famous Pueblan artisans creating Days of the Dead skeleton and skull artwork, and cazuela makers. The program focuses on the special foods that are made for this time of year: Sugar Skull candies; pulque; Bread of the Dead; and Mole Poblano. And viewers can share in eating the oldest Mexican meat: grasshoppers, ant eggs, mosquitoes and their eggs and beetle larvae.

Food for the Ancestors and the holiday climaxes on the night of November 1st when family members decorate the gravesites and spend the entire night sitting at the gravesites waiting for the ancestors to return.

FRIDAY

Seeking the First Americans, Odyssey, PBS

Who were the first Americans and when did they arrive? Archeologists from Texas to Alaska share their search for answers to one of the most controversial questions in North American history. Experts have found evidence that the first Americans may have arrived as early as 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. A significant controversy has developed over the origin of Clovis Man, the Stone Age culture of New Mexico dated at 11,000 B.C. Did this culture develop within a preexisting population or was it brought via the Bering Strait land bridge from Asia?