What is it about ancient colors that makes them such a source of fascination? Artifacts recovered from archaeological sites are, by their very nature, fragmented and faded. But sometimes you get a glimpse of some ancient color, a ghost sometimes, and the flash of insight you get into the culture is almost more than years of study can get you.

Okay, obviously I'm overstating it; but Maya Blue, our material of interest today, is an immediately recognizable shade of aqua that decorated pots and murals, like this one from Bonampak. It's not hard to figure out possible sources of inspiration, for sure. To learn about recent studies into how the color was created by Maya artisans, pick a link and follow through.

• Maya Blue
• Maya civilization Timeline and Description
• Bonampak