Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene
By (author) Eduardo Williams
Paperback (Published)
(February 2020)
ISBN: 9781789693539
8.07 x 11.42 inches
Price: $84.00
In stock
This volume presents a long-overdue synthesis and update on West Mexican archaeology. Ancient West Mexico has often been portrayed as a ‘marginal’ or ‘underdeveloped’ area of Mesoamerica. This book shows that the opposite is true and that it played a critical role in the cultural and historical development of the Mesoamerican ecumene.
This book presents a discussion of the culture history of ancient West Mexico from the time of the first human inhabitants until the last cultural developments that took place before the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. The overall narrative is played out within the context of the Mesoamerican ecumene; that is, the universe of cultural and social interactions that coalesced into one of the few pristine civilizations of the ancient world.
The book presents a long-overdue synthesis and update of West Mexican archaeology aimed at scholars, students and the general public. Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene is the first book about West Mexican archaeology written by a single author. Another unique feature of this book is that it follows a holistic approach that includes data and perspectives from sociocultural anthropology, ethnohistory, ethnoarchaeology, and general analogy with many ancient cultures within the Mesoamerican ecumene and beyond (including several of the Old World). The focus of interest is the relationship between West Mexico and the rest of the ecumene, and the role played by the ancient West Mexicans in shaping the culture and history of the Mesoamerican universe.
Ancient West Mexico has often been portrayed as a ‘marginal’ or ‘underdeveloped’ area of Mesoamerica. This book shows that the opposite is true. Indeed, Williams convincingly demonstrates that West Mexico actually played a critical role in the cultural and historical development of the Mesoamerican ecumene.
Preface ;
Chapter I Introduction ;
Mesoamerica: Debates and Perspectives over Time ;
The Mesoamerican Ecumene ;
West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene ;
Discussion and Conclusions Chapter II History of Archaeological Research in West Mexico ;
Part 1. History of Archaeological Research in Michoacán ;
Part 2. History of Archaeological Research in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Sinaloa ;
Final Remarks Chapter III First Inhabitants and Early Cultural Development ;
Geographical Background of West Mexico ;
Paleoindian Period: West Mexico’s First Inhabitants ;
Archaic Period: First Examples of Settled Life ;
Final Remarks Chapter IV The Formative Period (ca. 1500 BC-AD 300) ;
The Mesoamerican Ecumene during the Formative Period ;
The Middle Formative Period in West Mexico ;
The Late Formative Period in West Mexico ;
Cultural Relations between West and Central Mexico in the Formative ;
Final Remarks Chapter V The Classic Period (ca. AD 250/300-900) ;
The Mesoamerican Ecumene during the Classic Period ;
The Classic Period in West Mexico ;
Cultural Relations between West and Central Mexico during the Classic Period ;
Final Remarks Chapter VI The Postclassic Period (ca. AD 900-1521) ;
Part 1. The Central and Southern Areas of the Mesoamerican Ecumene in the Postclassic Period ;
Part 2. The Postclassic Period in West Mexico ;
Final Remarks Chapter VII The Tarascan Empire in the Mesoamerican Ecumene ;
The Tarascan Empire in the Protohistoric Period (ca. AD 1450-1530) ;
The Lake Cuitzeo Basin: A Key Economic Area of the Tarascan Empire ;
Trade, Tribute and Transportation within the Tarascan Empire ;
Final Remarks Chapter VIII Discussion and Conclusions ;
References Cited, Preface ;
Chapter I Introduction ;
Mesoamerica: Debates and Perspectives over Time ;
The Mesoamerican Ecumene ;
West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene ;
Discussion and Conclusions Chapter II History of Archaeological Research in West Mexico ;
Part 1. History of Archaeological Research in Michoacán ;
Part 2. History of Archaeological Research in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Sinaloa ;
Final Remarks Chapter III First Inhabitants and Early Cultural Development ;
Geographical Background of West Mexico ;
Paleoindian Period: West Mexico’s First Inhabitants ;
Archaic Period: First Examples of Settled Life ;
Final Remarks Chapter IV The Formative Period (ca. 1500 BC-AD 300) ;
The Mesoamerican Ecumene during the Formative Period ;
The Middle Formative Period in West Mexico ;
The Late Formative Period in West Mexico ;
Cultural Relations between West and Central Mexico in the Formative ;
Final Remarks Chapter V The Classic Period (ca. AD 250/300-900) ;
The Mesoamerican Ecumene during the Classic Period ;
The Classic Period in West Mexico ;
Cultural Relations between West and Central Mexico during the Classic Period ;
Final Remarks Chapter VI The Postclassic Period (ca. AD 900-1521) ;
Part 1. The Central and Southern Areas of the Mesoamerican Ecumene in the Postclassic Period ;
Part 2. The Postclassic Period in West Mexico ;
Final Remarks Chapter VII The Tarascan Empire in the Mesoamerican Ecumene ;
The Tarascan Empire in the Protohistoric Period (ca. AD 1450-1530) ;
The Lake Cuitzeo Basin: A Key Economic Area of the Tarascan Empire ;
Trade, Tribute and Transportation within the Tarascan Empire ;
Final Remarks Chapter VIII Discussion and Conclusions ;
References Cited
- By (author) Eduardo Williams
'For far too long, west Mexican prehistory has been the poor stepchild of Mesoamerican studies. Eduardo Williams’ book demonstrates the connections between this neglected region and the better-known areas of the Mesoamerican world. One of the strengths of Eduardo’s book is that he puts the history of archaeological and ethnographic research into perspective… Williams links west Mexican cultures and sites to the wider world of Mesoamerica. Other writers have either ignored the subject or only touched on it lightly. Eduardo documents the important connections. For those learning about the Mesoamerican world, these specific, documented connections are invaluable… I think this will be the “go-to” volume for anyone who wants either a broad overview or to compare different regions and developments (e.g. settlement, trade, social organization) through time…' - Prof. Robert B. Pickering, The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma
—
'Williams’ bridging of the past and present through ethnographic, ethnohistoric, and ethnoarchaeological data centered on the importance of aquatic lifeways is a much-needed thread of continuity and identity where none previously existed. Critiques noted previously aside, this a solid piece of work and one that I am excited to hopefully see make its way into classrooms and onto bookshelves.' - Anthony DeLuca (2021), Ethnoarchaeology
—
'There is no doubt that this is the book my students have been asking for in the way of a comprehensive overview of the archaeology of western Mexico.' - Christopher Beekman (2021), Latin American Antiquity
—
'For far too long, west Mexican prehistory has been the poor stepchild of Mesoamerican studies. Eduardo Williams’ book demonstrates the connections between this neglected region and the better-known areas of the Mesoamerican world. One of the strengths of Eduardo’s book is that he puts the history of archaeological and ethnographic research into perspective… Williams links west Mexican cultures and sites to the wider world of Mesoamerica. Other writers have either ignored the subject or only touched on it lightly. Eduardo documents the important connections. For those learning about the Mesoamerican world, these specific, documented connections are invaluable… I think this will be the “go-to” volume for anyone who wants either a broad overview or to compare different regions and developments (e.g. settlement, trade, social organization) through time…' - Prof. Robert B. Pickering, The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma
—
'Williams’ bridging of the past and present through ethnographic, ethnohistoric, and ethnoarchaeological data centered on the importance of aquatic lifeways is a much-needed thread of continuity and identity where none previously existed. Critiques noted previously aside, this a solid piece of work and one that I am excited to hopefully see make its way into classrooms and onto bookshelves.' - Anthony DeLuca (2021), Ethnoarchaeology
—
'There is no doubt that this is the book my students have been asking for in the way of a comprehensive overview of the archaeology of western Mexico.' - Christopher Beekman (2021), Latin American Antiquity
—
Other Titles in this Series
Obsidian Across the Americas
Compositional Studies Conducted in the Elemental Analysis Facility at the Field Museum of Natural History
Metallurgy in Ancient Ecuador
A Study of the Collection of Archaeological Metallurgy of the Ministry of Culture, Ecuador
Archaeological Paleography
A Proposal for Tracing the Role of Interaction in Mayan Script Innovation via Material Remains
Wari Women from Huarmey
Bioarchaeological Interpretation of Human Remains from the Wari Elite Mausoleum at Castillo de Huarmey, Peru
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