According to ancient Mayan Calendar, Year 2012 marks the end of an existing era. The widely-spread but unproved theory has even become a theme in popular culture.

Now Mayan experts are sitting down and having a serious discussion about the prediction of the end of the world. Let's fly to Mexico and discover our fate.

Archaeology experts from around the world gathered in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque in Chiapas, one of Mexico's most popular tourist attractions. They are taking part in a week-long conference titled "Mayas and Time Conceptions".

In 1987, author Jose Arguelles first brought the prophesies of the Mayan end in his book "The Mayan Factor." It was in the book he specifically stated that the Mayans said their long year will end on December 21, 2012. But archaeology experts said that the end of the cycle represents a new era of renovation and continuation of time in a calendar that constantly renews itself and continues.

Erick Velasquez, researcher of National Autonomous Univ. of Mexico, said, "We have to be clear about this. There is no prophecy for 2012. It's a marketing fallacy. The Mayans did not leave anything written about that. One should not believe anything about that. It all has to do with marketing and is not based on anything."

In the Mayan calendar, the long calendar count begins in 3,114 BC, marking time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns. It is thought that Bolon Yokte, a Mayan god associated with war and creation, will descend from the sky at that time.

Sven Gronemeyer, researcher from La Trobe Univ., Australia, said, "As far as we understand Mayan prophecies, Mayan prophecies are based on the experience and interpretation of the past. Because Bolon Yokte was already present at the day of creation and because the future date of 14/12 is revoking the same kind mutation, it just seemed natural for the Maya that Bolon Yokte will again be present."

Experts at the conference said the meeting is an opportunity to discuss in depth the world of the Mayas and their measurements of time, because this civilization always believed the end was related to renovation and change, that a new cycle would have to be welcomed with joy and rejoicing.

(CNTV December 5, 2011)