Another amazing aspect of Mayan life was the use of the stone stelae that dot the ancient city. Seen here in the great plaza, the massive stones were used to record the events of the time. Many are covered with glyphic writing, and pictures. Over 200 stone stelae, altars and glyphic stones have been discovered in the city. (One of the stelae can be seen in the treasures section.) Though the Maya did not create sculpture-in-the-round, they did create exquisite reliefs that paid tribute to past rulers and recorded the passage of time-a concept they obsessed over. These textual stones, many of which have been erased from erosion, were once covered in bright red paint, the color that dominated much of the city. The stones provide much of the evidence that archaeologists have used to decipher the intricacies of life in the ancient Mayan civilization. Though they are not completely understood, ongoing research of the glyph-covered tablets continues to provide new revelations about the ancient Maya.