Figures
0.1. Map of Mesoamerica, detailing rough areal divisions and key regions and sites discussed in this volume
2.1. Map of key Early Formative period sites in Mesoamerica
2.2. A reconstruction of the Tlacuache phase ceramic assemblage
2.3. A comparison of Tlacuache, Barra, and Tierras Largas vessel types by percentage
2.4. Jar remnants from the Op. LC12 H midden
2.5. Semispherical bowl remnants
2.6. Decorated Tlacuache assemblage vessel fragments from various contexts
2.7. Tlacuache grater bowl remnants
2.8. Partially reconstructed bottle recovered as offering with an adult male burial
2.9. Remnants of a probable effigy vessel from near Structure 2 domestic context
2.10. Capacha phase vessels
2.11. Tlacuache ceramics from various contexts at La Consentida that bear evidence of the “sunburst” motif
2.12. Fragment of a probable belted vessel from child burial at La Consentida
2.13. Results of X-ray fluorescence analysis of forty-five obsidian samples from La Consentida
2.14. Map with locations of La Consentida and the site’s six known obsidian sources
2.15. Figurine and musical instrument fragments suggesting interregional connections
3.1. Middle Formative period vegetal headdress element
3.2. The vegetal headdress element in various Mesoamerican iconographic and script traditions
3.3. Vegetal headdress as year-bearer glyph in Zapotec script
3.4. The vegetal headdress element in both iconographic and glyphic contexts in Zapotec texts
3.5. Formative period tri-lobed maize headdress imagery
3.6. Tri-lobed maize headdress imagery in Late Formative and Classic period Izapan and Maya art and script
3.7. Throne-mat combinations in Olmec and Mayan script
3.8. The Lazy-S motif in Mesoamerican art and scripts
3.9. The Lazy-S in iconographic contexts with distinct semantic values
3.10. Variable conventions in Mesoamerican scripts; speech scrolls vs. columnar organization 102
4.1. Map of Mesoamerica around AD 1500 with sites and languages discussed in the chapter
4.2. Late seventh-century example of the OHL logogram at Palenque on the West Panel of the Temple of the Inscriptions (B7)
4.3. CHAK-xi-wi-te-i, chak xiwitei (Dresden 49C)
4.4. Possible PIK, pik ‘skirt’ logogram on the East Panel of the Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque (R7)
4.5. Early Classic greenstone mask with the spelling ko²-mu-ti, kok muut, ‘harpy eagle’
4.6. The name of Chak Ak’ Paat Yuk, the ak’ meaning ‘turkey’, on La Corona, Element 56 (pF2–pE3)
5.1. Early Classic tripod purportedly from the Maya lowlands, whose lid has a hieroglyphic script that describes this vase as containing the “cacao drink” of a king
5.2. Two incised tripod vessels from Teotihuacan with large nubbin supports
5.3. Drawing of various ceramic vessel forms from Teotihuacan
5.4. Conical tripod supports innovated during the Late Tlamimilolpa phase
5.5. Talud Tablero–style tripod supports, Late Xolalpan phase
5.6. Tripod from Kaminaljuyú depicting central Mexican ruler with Maya jadeite jewelry and a central Mexican headdress
5.7. Tripod vessel with Teotihuacan iconography reportedly from the Maya area
5.8. Tripod from Kaminaljuyú, Mound A, Tomb A-1
5.9. (a) Tripod from Tikal with Maya hieroglyphs on the lid; (b) example of tripod vessel with lid and bird’s head from Teotihuacan
5.10. Tripod from dedication cache at Becan, Campeche
5.11. Tripod vessel from Oxkintok, Yucatán
5.12. Scene incised on blackware tripod vessel located in Problematical Deposit 50 at Tikal
6.1. Maps showing the state of Guerrero in the wider geographical context of Mesoamerica and the major rivers and modern towns and cities as well as archaeological sites mentioned in the text
6.2. Monuments from northern Guerrero
6.3. Examples of Teotihuacan Storm gods or Storm god impersonators holding darts or a lightning bolt dart in front of them
6.4. Unprovenanced stela, reportedly from Guerrero and currently in the Sala Teotihuacan, Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City
6.5. The stela from San Miguel Totolapan, front and back
6.6. The archaeological site of Cerro de los Monos, Guerrero
6.7. Early photographs showing Cerro de los Monos Column 1 and 2 and Sculpture 1
6.8. Comparison of Teotihuacan-style ballcourt markers or battle standards
6.9. Roll-out drawings of the carved monuments from Cerro de los Monos
6.10. Quechomictlipan Monument 1
7.1. Regional map detailing locations of sites mentioned in the text
7.2. The Tuxtla Statuette
7.3. Stela-Base-Throne Complex in situ at Piedra Labrada
7.4. Piedra Labrada Stela 1
7.5. La Perla del Golfo carved stone block
7.6. One of the three boxes of Matacanela
7.7. Stelae Bases in situ, Complex 2 of Piedra Labrada
7.8. Some examples of Tuxtlas Polychrome
7.9. Hollow figurine from La Joya
8.1. Location of Cantona in relation to Teotihuacan and obsidian sources in central Mexico
8.2. Limits of Cantona in relation to the general area of the Zaragoza-Oyameles Obsidian Survey, Puebla, Mexico
8.3. Specific limits of the 2012–2014 seasons of the Zaragoza-Oyameles Obsidian Survey
8.4. Zaragoza-Oyameles projectile points in the central Mexican Stemmed-A and Stemmed-B style
8.5. (a) Zaragoza-Oyameles stemmed-A style point exhibiting upper-left to lower-right diagonal flaking pattern; (b) ovate-shaped point exhibiting lower-left to upper-right diagonal flaking pattern
9.1. Map of the principal sites associated with the Chalchihuites culture
9.2. The Hall of Columns at Alta Vista
9.3. Comparative chronologies from Zacatecas, Durango and Sinaloa
9.4. The Chalchihuites chronology in Durango with associated ceramic types
9.5. La Ferrería Structure 7 (La Pirámide)
9.6. La Ferrería Structure 1 (La Casa de los Dirigentes)
9.7. La Ferrería iron pyrite mirrors and other items from Kelley’s excavations in the 1950s
9.8. Copper objects found by Kelley in la Ferrería
9.9. Cliff dwelling, Cueva del Maguey, Durango
10.1. A view of the city of Cholula to the east as seen from the summit of the Great Pyramid
10.2. Artistic interpretation of the Temple of Quetzalcoatl based on written accounts and images appearing in various pictographic documents
10.3. Print by Bernard Picart portrays Quetzalcoatl at Cholula being venerated as the “Mercury” of the Mexicans
10.4. The annual market held in the main plaza of San Pedro Cholula in conjunction with the feast of the Virgin of the Remedies
10.5. The image of San Miguel de Tianguisnahuac is dressed in his green-plumed finery in preparation for the procession of the barrio saints throughout the city before they are presented at the sanctuary of the Virgin of the Remedies
10.6. At the close of the celebration for the Virgin of the Remedies, thousands of participants in the festivities descend from the Virgin’s shrine at the summit of the Great Pyramid to participate in a feast sponsored by the mayordomo
10.7. Celebrants share in platters of cecina, salt beef, grilled on an open fire; rajas, grilled peeled strips of poblano peppers and white cheese with toasted handmade tortillas while consuming fruit drinks as well as the more traditional atole and aguardiente.
10.8. The climax of the feast of the Virgin of the Remedies is a massive fireworks display
10.9. As the mayordomos of San Bernardino Tlaxcalantzingo arrive to participate in the feast, they set aside their silver staffs of office
11.1. The northward diffusion of metallurgy from regions in Central or South America via maritime and/or terrestrial trade routes
11.2. Mesoamerican deities associated with metal
11.3. Examples of different Mesoamerican bell typologies
11.4. Examples of the most common bell forms from the offerings of the Templo Mayor
11.5. Metal tributes mentioned in the Matrícula de Tributos
11.6. Traders transporting and selling goods, including bells, needles, textiles and personal ornaments of gold and obsidian
12.1. The Yucatán Peninsula, divided into sixteen autonomous provinces, at AD 1550–1580
12.2. The Valley of Oaxaca, showing three competing centers—San José Mogote, Yegüih, and Tilcajete—one in each subvalley
12.3. The position of San José Mogote’s Monument 3, a carved stone that served as the threshold for the corridor, ensured that anyone entering the corridor would have stepped on the body of a sacrificial victim
12.4. Calakmul’s core area (its hexagonal lattice of subjects) and its many neighbors and subjects
12.5. Stela 1 of Nakbe, which shows two lords, once reached 3.4 meters in height
12.6. Top: The Snake head, or Kaan, sign. Bottom: The Snake Head Polity emblem glyph can be translated as “Divine Lord of the Snake Polity”
12.7. Carved steps from a Dzibanche stairway, showing prisoners defeated by a divine lord of the Snake Polity