Artifacts from the Paleolithic suggest that the moon was used to reckon time as early as 6,000 years ago. Lunar calendars were among the first to appear, either 12 or 13 lunar months (either 354 or 384 days). Without intercalation to add days or months to some years, seasons quickly drift in a calendar based solely on twelve lunar months. Lunisolar calendars have a thirteenth month added to some years to make up for the difference between a full year (now known to be about 365.24 days) and a year of just twelve lunar months. The numbers twelve and thirteen came to feature prominently in many cultures, at least partly due to this relationship of months to years. Other early forms of calendars originated in Mesoamerica, particularly in ancient Mayan civilization. These calendars were religiously and astronomically based, with 18 months in a year and 20 days in a month. COUNT 5
QSN1 Artifacts from which era suggest that the moon was used to reckon time around 6,000 years ago? ANS1 the Paleolithic QSN2 Which calendars were among the first to appear? ANS2 Lunar calendars QSN3 How long were the original lunar calendars? ANS3 either 12 or 13 lunar months (either 354 or 384 days) QSN4 Where did some of the other early forms of calendars originate? ANS4 Mesoamerica QSN5 How many months were in a year in the original Mayan calendars? ANS5 18