The concept of zero, as we understand it today, was indeed developed independently by several ancient civilizations, including the Mayans. However, it’s important to clarify that the Mayans didn’t ‘invent’ zero in the way we think of inventions. Instead, they recognized and utilized a symbol to represent the concept of zero within their number system.
The Mayan numeral system was a vigesimal (base-20) system, which included three symbols: a dot for one, a bar for five, and a shell symbol for zero. This shell symbol was crucial because it allowed the Mayans to express large numbers effectively and represented the absence of a value in a given position, similar to how we use zero today.
While the Mayans and other cultures, like the Indians, developed and used the concept of zero around the same time, it is more accurate to say that they contributed to the understanding and notation of zero rather than solely inventing it. The use of zero was crucial in advancing mathematics and astronomy in Mayan civilization, enabling complex calculations and the establishment of their calendar.