correct naming of Maya - Mayas - Mayan?

by crischo

I was wondering how the correct naming for the ancient civilization of the Maya would be in English language:

  1. "the Mayan civilization, culture, ruins etc." or "the Maya civilization, culture, civilization"
  2. "the civilization of the Maya" or "the civilization of the Mayas"

Thanks for your responses :-)

Reedstilt

Maya is always acceptable as an adjective or a singular or plural noun. Mayan can also be used in a linguistic context (a Mayan language, the Mayan script, you don't really speak Mayan though because there are several different Mayan languages). Mayas is never used.