Mayan Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Technology, Memory and Decolonial Possibilities
Universidad de Guanajuato, Mexico.
Chitrolekha Journal, Vol. 10, Issue 2, 2026. https://doi.org/10.21659/cjad.102.v10n208
| Abstract
This article examines the use of digital media in disseminating and preserving Mayan cultural heritage through a series of interdisciplinary projects grounded in archaeological research and immersive technologies. Developed by a team of academics and students, these initiatives explore how augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI) and three-dimensional reconstruction can bring ancient Mayan knowledge systems before the public. The article examines the educational and interpretive possibilities of digital technologies for communicating complex cosmological beliefs, particularly to younger generations. It also addresses the challenges of translating sacred narratives and intricate visual traditions into digital formats without diminishing their cultural significance. It follows a decolonial perspective and argues that digital dissemination can challenge the alienation of cultural heritage and democratise access to historical knowledge. Keywords: Mayan cultural heritage, digital media, augmented reality, digital art, cultural memory, decolonization, archaeological preservation. |
| Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Funding: No funding was received for this research. Article History: Received: 15 August 2026. Revised: 20 October 2026. Accepted: 10 October 2026. First published: 30 October 2026. Copyright: © 2026 by the author/s. License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India Citation: Thompson, R. (2026). Mayan Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Technology, Memory and Decolonial Possibilities. Chitrolekha Journal, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.21659/cjad.102.v10n208 |
