Mesoamerican Long Count calendar

The refined method of dating used by Mesoamericans

Calendar created by Mariano Tomatis

If today (April 19, 2024) Mayans would build a monument, they would carve on it the date 13.0.11.8.17

Their calendar was like a simple miles counter:

Baktun 13

13 is the number of Baktun since August 11, 3114 BC in the proleptic Gregorian calendar.

Each Baktun lasts about 4 centuries.

Baktun 13 starts on December 21, 2012 and the End of the World Mythology is entirely based on the aspect of that date, written as 13.0.0.0.0

Katun 0

0 is the number of Katun since the beginning of Baktun 13.

Each Katun lasts about 20 years (7200 days).

This wheel ranges from 0 to 19: at the end of Katun 19, this wheel will zero and the next Baktun will start.

Tun 11

11 is the number of Tun since the beginning of Katun 0.

Each Tun lasts about one year (360 days).

This wheel ranges from 0 to 19: at the end of Tun 19, this wheel will zero and the next Katun will start.

Winal 8

8 is the number of Winal since the beginning of Tun 11.

Each Winal lasts exactly 20 days.

This wheel ranges from 0 to 17: at the end of Winal 17, this wheel will zero and the next Tun will start.

Kin 17

17 is the number of Kin since the beginning of Winal 8.

A Kin corresponds to one day.

This wheel ranges from 0 to 19: at the end of Kin 19, this wheel will zero and the next Winal will start.