Mesoamerican Archaeology: Theory and Practice - Paperback

by Julia A. Hendon (Editor), Lisa Overholtzer (Editor), Rosemary A. Joyce (Editor)

A unique and wide-ranging introduction to the major prehispanic and colonial societies of Mexico and Central America, featuring new and revised material throughout

Mesoamerican Archaeology: Theory and Practice, Second Edition, provides readers with a diverse and well-balanced view of the archaeology of the indigenous societies of Mexico and Central America, helping students better understand key concepts and engage with contemporary debates and issues within the field. The fully updated second edition incorporates contemporary research that reflects new approaches and trends in Mesoamerican archaeology. New and revised chapters from first-time and returning authors cover the archaeology of Mesoamerican cultural history, from the early Gulf Coast Olmec, to the Classic and Postclassic Maya, to the cultures of Oaxaca and Central Mexico before and after colonization. Presenting a wide range of approaches that illustrate political, socio-economic, and symbolic interpretations, this textbook:

• Encourages students to consider diverse ways of thinking about Mesoamerica: as a linguistic area, as a geographic region, and as a network of communities of practice
• Represents a wide spectrum of perspectives and approaches to Mesoamerican archaeology, including coverage of the Postclassic and Colonial periods
• Enables readers to think critically about how explanations of the past are produced, verified, and debated
• Includes accessible introductory material to ensure that students and non-specialists understand the chronological and geographic frameworks of the Mesoamerican tradition
• Discusses recent developments in the contemporary theory and practice of Mesoamerican archaeology
• Presents new and original research by a team of internationally recognized contributors

Mesoamerican Archaeology: Theory and Practice, Second Edition, is ideal for use in undergraduate courses on the archaeology of Mexico and Central America, as well as for broader courses on the archaeology of the Americas.

Front Jacket

"The collection of studies in this volume is a perfect blend of contemporary archaeological theory and methods, ideal for any student of Mesoamerican Archaeology."
Lisa M. Johnson, Assistant Professor-in-Residence, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

"Beyond an introduction to Mesoamerican archaeology, this volume skilfully introduces students to key anthropological and archaeological theories in both a clear and critical manner."
Adela Amaral, Assistant Professor, The College of William & Mary

"The contributors to this work have a wide array of expertise and experience and are truly innovative thinkers, bringing fresh perspectives to long-standing archaeological questions and theoretical debates. The authors provide rich and empirically grounded discussions of cutting-edge research with deep theoretical engagement. It is a valuable resource for anyone studying Mesoamerican archaeology."
Lisa Delance, Professor, University of La Verne

Mesoamerican Archaeology: Theory and Practice, Second Edition, brings together the perspectives of a team of leading international experts in the field of Mesoamerican archaeology, providing readers with a diverse and well-balanced view of the archaeology of the indigenous societies of Mexico and Central America. The fully updated second edition incorporates contemporary research that reflects new approaches and trends in Mesoamerican archaeology. New and revised chapters from first-time and returning authors cover the archaeology of Mesoamerican cultural history, from the early Gulf Coast Olmec, to the Classic and Postclassic Maya, to the cultures of Oaxaca and Central Mexico before and after colonization, representing a wide spectrum of perspectives and approaches to Mesoamerican archaeology.

Offering a unique approach to the textbook format, this valuable text helps students understand key concepts and engage with contemporary debates within the field. Presenting a wide range of approaches that illustrate political, socio-economic, and symbolic interpretations, this textbook encourages students to consider diverse ways of thinking about Mesoamerica--as a linguistic area, as a geographic region, and as a network of communities of practice--and enables readers to think critically about how explanations of the past are produced, verified, and debated. The new edition includes chapters on resiliency, cultural reconstitution, and individual identity and agency, and offers new material that examines recent bioarchaeological research on daily life.

Carefully designed to provide accessible introductory material for students and non-specialists, Mesoamerican Archaeology: Theory and Practice, Second Edition, is ideal for use in undergraduate courses on the archaeology of Mexico and Central America, as well as for broader courses on the archaeology of the Americas.

Author Biography

Julia A. Hendon is Professor of Anthropology at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, USA. Her current research focuses on the connections between particular forms of technology, the production of goods, and social identity. She is author of Houses in a Landscape: Memory and Everyday Life in Mesoamerica, which was awarded the Linda S. Cordell Book Award in Archaeology in 2015, and is co-author of Material Relations: The Marriage Figurines of Prehispanic Honduras.

Lisa Overholtzer is Assistant Professor and William Dawson Chair in the Department of Anthropology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Her research examines the everyday material practices of ordinary people in Postclassic and colonial central Mexico. She has published widely with work appearing in American Anthropologist and Journal of Anthropological Archaeology.

Rosemary A. Joyce is Professor of Anthropology at University of California, Berkeley, USA. She served as a curator and faculty member at Harvard University and as Director of the Hearst Museum of Anthropology at Berkeley. She is the author of ten books including Painted Pottery of Honduras: Object Lives and Itineraries; Ancient Bodies, Ancient Lives; The Languages of Archaeology; and Gender and Power in Prehispanic Mesoamerica.