Apocalypse, not so fast

Although hieroglyphs previously found at an ancient Maya site may or may not mention December 21, 2012, as the end of time, don’t cancel any New Year’s Eve plans. Scientists working at another Maya city have uncovered a second reference to the same 2012 date, and the writing on the wall — make that the staircase — concerns political turmoil back then, not apocalypse now.

Anthropologists who discovered and deciphered the 2012 reference among hieroglyphs carved on 22 staircase steps at Guatemala’s La Corona site announced their find June 28 in Guatemala City.

“This text talks about ancient political history rather than prophecy,”