Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T06:33:21.620Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Lowland to Highland Mexicanization Processes in Southern Mesoamerica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

John W. Fox
John W. Fox*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Burleson Hall, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76703
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

An Epiclassic period (ca. A.D. 800-1000) Mexican-influenced archaeological pattern is delineated for the Río Negro and Río Motagua basins, the two principal arteries of highland Guatemala, which flow to the Gulf and Caribbean lowlands. This pattern is argued to have originated along the Mexican-Mayan cultural frontier of the Gulf coast. A subsequent Toltec pattern in these same river basins parallels Chichén Itzá and Mayapán and also can be seen to have originated in the same general Gulf lowlands. Such Mexican/Toltec patterns in archaeology show that ethnohistorical claims by the later Quiche and Cakchiquel peoples for having introduced Toltec cultural forms into the highlands actually predate their stated migratory movement and a threshold of "history" (A.D. 1200s) by centuries.

Type
Research Article
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 45 , Issue 1 , January 1980 , pp. 43 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Adams, Richard E. W. 1974 Preliminary reports on archaeological investigations in the Rio Bee area, Campeche, Mexico. Middle American Research Institute, Publication 31.Google Scholar
Adams, Richard E. W. 1977 Prehistoric Mesoamerica. Little, Brown, Boston.Google Scholar
Andrews, E. Wyllys 1943 The archaeology of southwestern Campeche/. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 546.Google Scholar
Ball, Joseph W. 1974 A coordinate approach to northern Maya prehistory: A.D. 700-1200. American Antiquity 39:85–93.Google Scholar
Borhegyi, Stephen F. de 1965 Archaeological synthesis of the Guatemalan highlands. In Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, edited by Wauchope, R. and Willey, G. R., pp. 3–58. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Burkitt, Robert 1930 Explorations in the highlands of western Guatemala. The Museum Journal 21(1):41–72.Google Scholar
Carmack, Robert M. 1968 Toltec influence on the Postclassic culture history of highland Guatemala. Middle American Hesearch Institute, Publication 26:42–92.Google Scholar
Carmack, Robert M., Fox, John W., and Steward, Russell E. 1975 La formation del reino Quiche. Instituto de Antropologia e Historia, Especial No. 7. Google Scholar
Chahoma (1555) 1956 Titulos indigenes de tierras, translated by M. Crespo. Antropologia e Historia de Guatemala 8:10–15.Google Scholar
Chapman, Anne M. 1957 Port of trade enclaves in Aztec and Maya civilizations. In Trade and market in the early empires, edited by Polanyi, K., Arensburg, C. M., and Pearson, H. W., pp. 114–153. Free Press, Glencoe, IL. Google Scholar
Coe, William R. 1970 Tikal, a handbook of the Maya ruins. University Museum, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
C'oyoi (ca. 1550-1570) 1973 Titulo Coyoi. In Quichean civilization, edited by Carmack, Robert M., pp. 265–345. University of California Press, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Davies, Nigel 1977 The Toltecs. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Fox, John W. 1977 Quiche expansion processes. In Archaeology and ethnohistory of the Central Quiche, edited by Wallace, D. T. and Carmack, R. M.. Institute for Mesoamerican Studies, Publication No. 1:82–97.Google Scholar
Fox, John W. 1978 Quiche conquest. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Ichon, Alain 1973 Campagne de Fouilles 1972-1973. La Mission Scientifique Frangaise au Guatemala, unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Ichon, Alain 1977 A Late Postclassic sweathouse in the highlands of Guatemala. American Antiquity 42:203–209.Google Scholar
Lehmann, Henri 1968 Mixco Viejo: gufa de las ruinas de Ja plaza fuerte Pocomam. Tipografia Nacional, Guatemala.Google Scholar
Lothrop, Samuel K. 1933 Atitlan: an archaeological study of the ancient remains on the borders of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 444.Google Scholar
Nicholson, Henry B. 1957 Topiltzin Quetzalcoati of Tollan: a problem in Mesoamerican ethnohistory. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Harvard University.Google Scholar
Nijaib I (ca. 1550-1570) 1957 Titulo de la Casa Ixquin-Nehaib, Senora del territorio de Otzoya. In Cronicas Indigenas, edited by Recinos, Adrian, pp. 71–94. Editorial Universitaria, Guatemala.Google Scholar
Pollock, H. E. D., Roys, R. L., Proskouriakoff, T., and Smith, A. L. 1962 Mayapan, Yucatan, Mexico. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 619.Google Scholar
Popo Vuh (ca 1554-1558) 1971 The book of counsel: the Popol Vuh of the Quiche Maya of Guatemala, translated by Edmonson, M.. Middle American Research Institute, Publication 35.Google Scholar
Proskouriakoff, Tatiana 1962 The artifacts of Mayapan. In Mayapan, Yucatan, Mexico, edited by Pollock, H. E. D. et al., pp. 321–442. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 619.Google Scholar
Rands, Robert L., and Smith, Robert E. 1965 Pottery of the Guatemalan highlands. In Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, edited by Wauchope, R. and Willey, G. R., pp. 95–145. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Recinos, Adrian 1954 Monographia del Departamento de Huehuetenango. Coleccion Monografias, No. 2, segundo ed., Ministerio de Education Publica, Guatemala. Flelaciones de Yucatan (1579-1581)Google Scholar
Recinos, Adrian 1898-1900 Coleccion de documentos ineditos relativos al descubrimiento, conquista y organization de lasantiques posesiones espanoles de ultramar. Second Series, Vols. 11, 13. Madrid.Google Scholar
Renfrew, Colin 1975 Trade as action at a distance: questions of integration and communication. In Ancient civilizationand trade, edited by Sabloff, J. A. and Lamberg, C. C.-Karlovsky, pp. 3–59. School of American Research, Advanced Seminar Series. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Roys, Ralph 1962 Literary sources for the history of Mayapan. In Mayapan, Yucatan, Mexico, edited by Pollock, H. E. D. et al., pp. 25–86. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 619.Google Scholar
Roys, Ralph 1966 Native empires in Yucatan. Revista Mexicana de Estudios Antropologicos 20:153–177.Google Scholar
Ruz Lhuillier, Alberto 1964 Influencias Mexicanas sobre los Mayas. In DesarroIIo cultural de los Mayas, edited by Vogtand, E. Z. Ruz L., A. Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico.Google Scholar
Ruz Lhuillier, Alberto 1969 La costa de Campeche en los tiempos prehispanicos. Instituto National de Antropologia e Historia 18, Mexico.Google Scholar
Sabloff, Jeremy A., and Freidel, David A. 1975 A model of a Pre-Columbian trading center. In Ancient civilization and trade, edited by Sabloffand, J. A. Lamberg-Karlovsky, C. C., pp. 369–408. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Sabloff, Jeremy A., and Rathje, William L. 1975 Changing Pre-Columbian commercial systems. Peabody Museum Monographs 3.Google Scholar
Sabloff, Jeremy A., and Willey, Gordon R. 1967 The collapse of Maya civilization in the southern lowlands: a consideration of history and process. Southwestern Journal of Anthropology 23:311–336.Google Scholar
Sanapulas (1551) 1973 Titulo Sacapulas. In Quichean civilization, edited by Carmack, Robert M., pp. 355–359. University of California Press, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Sahlins, Marshall D., and Service, Elman R. (editors) 1960 Evolution and culture. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor.Google Scholar
Scholes, Frances V., and Roys, Ralph L. 1968 The Maya Chontal Indians of Acalan Tixchel. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Shook, Edwin M., and Proskouriakoff, Tatiana 1956 Settlement patterns in Meso-America and the sequence in the Guatemalan highlands. In Prehistoricsettlement patterns in the New World, edited by Willey, G. R., pp. 93–100. Viking Fund Publications in Anthropology, No. 23, New York.Google Scholar
Smith, A. Ledyard 1955 Archaeological reconnaissance in central Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 608.Google Scholar
Smith, A. Ledyard, and V. Kidder, Alfred 1943 Exploration in the Motagua Valley, Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 546.Google Scholar
Smith, A. Ledyard, and V. Kidder, Alfred 1951 Excavations at Nebaj, Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 594.Google Scholar
Smith, Robert E. 1971 The pottery of Mayapan. Papers of the Peabody Museum, Vol. 66.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1943 A trial survey of the southern Maya area. American Antiquity 9:106–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1948 An archaeological reconnaissance in the Cotzumalhuapa region, Escuintla, Guatemala. CarnegieInstitution of Washington Publication 574.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1970 Maya history and religion. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Totonicapan, 1953 Title of the lords of Totonicapan, translated by Goetz, Delia and Chonay, Dionisio Jose. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Tozzer, A. M. 1957 Chichen Itza and its cenote of sacrifice: a comparative study of contemporaneous Maya and Toltec.Peabody Museum Memoirs 11, 12.Google Scholar
Uchabaja (1600), 1973 Titulo Uchabaja. In Quichean civilization, edited by Carmack, Robert M., pp. 369–371. University of California Press, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Wauchope, Robert 1948 Excavations at Zacualpa, Guatemala. Middle American flesearch Institute Publication 14.Google Scholar
Wauchope, Robert 1970 Protohistoric pottery of the Guatemalan highlands. In Monographs and papers in Maya archaeology, edited by Bullard, W. R., pp. 89–245. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 61.Google Scholar
Weaver, Muriel Porter 1972 The Aztecs, Maya and their predecessors. Seminar Press, New York.Google Scholar
Webb, Malcolm C. 1973 The Peten Maya decline viewed in the perspective of state formation. In Classic Maya collapse, edited by Culbert, T. P., pp 367–404. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Webb, Malcolm C. 1975 The flag follows trade: an essay on the necessary interaction of military and commercial factors instate formation. In Ancient civilization and trade, edited by Sabloff, J. A. and Lamberg-Karlovsky, C. C., pp. 155–209. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Wittfogel, Karl A. 1957 Oriental despotism. Yale University Press, New Haven.Google Scholar
Woodbury, Richard B., and Trik, Aubrey S. 1953 The ruins of Zaculeu, Guatemala. United Fruit Company, New York.Google Scholar
Xajil (1493-1600) 1953 Annals of the Cakchiquels, translated by Recinos, Adrian and Goetz, Delia. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar