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A TEOTIHUACAN PRESENCE AT CHAC II, YUCATAN, MEXICO: Implications for early political economy of the Puuc region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2004

Michael P. Smyth  and
Daniel Rogart
Michael P. Smyth
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789-4499, USA
Daniel Rogart
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118-5698, USA
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Abstract

A long-term research program at the Maya center of Chac (II) is providing extraordinary new information regarding architecture, mortuary populations, and foreign presence at the Puuc hills during the Early Classic period (a.d. 300–600). The finding of numerous early substructures at monumental and residential contexts, unusual mortuary practices, and various artifacts showing central Mexican inspiration and/or origin has led to the serious realization that the center of Chac did not develop in cultural isolation. It is becoming increasingly evident that Teotihuacan played a significant role, either directly or via one of its surrogates, in the rise of urban centers in the Puuc region. This paper explores the evidence of foreign influences and contacts at Chac and discusses the larger implications for the early political economy of the Puuc hills region and the region's relationship to greater Mesoamerica.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 17 - 47
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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