When Mayan civilization suffered a mysterious collapse more than 1000 years ago, the city of Palenque fell into ruin and was abandoned along with other great urban centers. Featuring 150 illustrations, this history follows artists and archaeologists from the 18th century onward, as they rediscovered Palenque and documented its palaces, temples, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. For many years, these inscriptions were a mystery, but here David Stuart explains how they were finally deciphered, revealing a lost world of palace intrigue, brilliant architects, and revered ancestors.