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.

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

Preface viiList of Figures xiNotes on Contributors xvii1 Mesoamerica: From Culture Area to Networks of Communities of Practice 1Rosemary A. Joyce2 Polity and Power in the Olmec Landscape 32Christopher A. Pool3 Objects with Images: Meaning-Making in Formative Mesoamerica 71Rosemary A. Joyce4 Monumental Cityscape and Polity at Teotihuacan 98Saburo Sugiyama and Nawa Sugiyama5 Social and Ethnic Identity in the Classic Metropolis of Teotihuacan 129Linda R. Manzanilla6 Household Archaeology and the Ancient Maya 156Julia A. Hendon7 Inseparable Entities: Classic Maya Landscapes and Settlements 179Wendy Ashmore and Cynthia Robin8 Monte Albán and Early Urbanism in the Valley of Oaxaca: Maize, Mountains, and Monuments 203Arthur A. Joyce9 Conquests and Colonialisms in Postclassic and Early Colonial Nejapa, Oaxaca 229Stacie King10 Writing History in the Postclassic Mixteca 257Ludo Snijders11 Resiliency and Cultural Reconstitution of the Postclassic Mayapan Confederacy and Its Aftermath 278Marilyn A. Masson12 Home Is Where the Ithuallí Is: Toward a Microarchaeology of Aztec Households, Family Histories, and Social Identities 315Lisa Overholtzer13 Mexica Monumental Stone Sculpture: Constellations of Form, Meaning, and Change in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec Capital 350Ángel González López14 Bioarchaeological Research on Daily Life in the Emerging Colonial Society of Mexico City 374Julie K. WespIndex 398