Books by G.G. Ershova, director of the Mesoamerican Center. Yu.V. Knorozov RGGU, from the cycle "Ancient America: flight in time and space" are devoted to the history of ancient cultures and civilizations of the New World. These publications are unique not only for our country. Two books cover the entire period of development of civilization in the New World - from the settlement of the continent to the appearance of the Spaniards, they present the most modern scientific materials on the cultures of all the "three Americas": North, Central and South. Particular attention is paid to the outstanding civilizations of the continent, but the books are also almost an encyclopedic publication, since they contain information about most of the ancient American cultures. At the same time, they are written in a popular science genre, which makes them accessible to the widest readership.The first book in the cycle is dedicated to the cultures of North and South America.