NOTE: In preparation for the September Reinvent Part II show, the S143 collective presents the Wheel-Lore series, modern facts and folklore about the wheel and the ways it’s been used by earthly beings. Be inspired, and share your own wheel sightings and tales.

Wheel-Lore #1:
The ancient Maya civilization of Mexico and Central America is known for its spectacular art and sophisticated mathematical and astronomical systems. They built architectural masterpieces and created vast networks of roads…all without the wheel. What’s that you say? How could such an advanced civilization not know about an invention as essential as the wheel? Oh, but they did. The kids played with wheeled toys, and they used the wheel for astrology, sculpture, and keeping time. But without appropriate draft animals to pull carts (having only the delicate llama) and with the rough, marshy jungle, constant wheel traffic wasn’t especially useful. While this put tremendous stress on human labor for moving heavy construction materials, it appears the lack of the wheel did not deter the progress of this amazing and mysterious civilization.