Experts say Mayans prophesized but not about the end of the world

MEXICO CITY - As the clock winds down to December 21, experts on the Mayan calendar have been racing against time to convince the public the Mayas didn't predict an apocalypse this year.

Some experts are now saying the Mayas may indeed have made prophecies, just not about the end of the world.

Archeologists, anthropologists and other experts are meeting in the southern Mexico city of Merida to discuss the implications of the Mayan Long Count calendar, which is made up of 394-year periods called baktuns.

Experts estimate the system starts counting at 3,114 B.C., and will have run through 13 baktuns around Dec. 21.

Mexican government archeologist Alfredo Barrera said Friday the Mayas did prophesize, but perhaps about more humdrum events like droughts or disease outbreaks.