NATCHEZ — Today, Lee Jones, a self described “Maya-groupie,” will give his controversial account on the collapse of the Mayan civilization.

Lee’s said he’s been fascinated with the Mayans and their culture since the 1960s after he made a business trip to Central America.

Lee’s lecture, Thursday at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, is one in a series of lectures to be hosted by Grand Village.

Grand Village Director Jim Barnett said Lee’s last lecture proved to be the most popular ever in the series.

“It was absolutely packed,” Barnett said. “There wasn’t even standing room.”

And Lee said his lecture, on exactly what happened to the Mayans, is bound to cause a stir.

While Lee wanted to keep his opinion of what happened to the Mayans a secret, he said his opinion will not coincide with the popular theories.

“In less than 100 years 90 percent of the population disappeared off the face of the earth,” Lee said. “And no one can explain that.”

But Lee is hoping his opinion will be able to shed some light on the subject.

Lee’s lecture will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

Admission is free.

“Civilizations rise and fall,” Barnett said. “Who knows if archeologist will be looking at vine-covered remains of our cities one day.”