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"The rise of merchants during the Pre Classic and Classic Periods facilitated growth in the middle class as well as the elite of many Maya communities. The rise of a middle class is not so much connected to the merchants themselves, but rather, to the intermediary occupations, such as skilled artisans and craftsmen, who were indirectly involved in commerce. Maya farmers transported their cocoa beans to market by canoe or in large baskets strapped to their backs, and a Mecapal, (forehead band tied to the basket). Wealthy merchants traveled further, employing porters, as there were no horses, pack animals or wheeled carts in Central America at that time. Some ventured as far as Teotihuacan, introducing them to the much-prized cocoa beans, it was also traded with the TainosKakau god from Cuba and the Quechua from South America. Chocolate was made from roasted cocoa beans, water and a little spice: and it was the most important use of cocoa beans, although they were also valued as a currency."
The cache is not at the posted coordinates. Finding the source of the information quoted above will help you to solve for the minutes of the true coordinates. The information you will need is the relative trade value of the cocoa bean reported by an early explorer. Convert the following commodities to their value in cocoa beans, then do the indicated math.
North: (32 slaves, 35 rabbits, 37 pumpkins, 33 turkey eggs, 38 large tomatoes) / 1000
West: (7 slaves, 6 turkey hens, 24 pumpkins, 31 turkey eggs) / 1000
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Remember to write down the Maya number symbols found in the log book, or on the lid, that is needed to determine the coordinates of the final cache of this series. After conversion, ten are labeled N and are each a four-digit number. Ten are labeled W and are each a three-digit number. The final cache of this series, A New Era, provides the final numbers and instructions how to add to the prior twenty to determine its coordinates.