The ancient Maya of Mexico : reinterpreting the past of the Northern Maya lowlands /

Fourteen essays by 16 academic and student contributors focus on topics within the 15,500-year prehistory and history of the region comprising the Mexican states of Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. UC San Diego anthropologist Braswell, author of the compelling monograph The Maya and Teotihuacan (CH, Mar'04, 41-4127), solicited and edited 12 up-to-date chapters--three each within four chronological eras: Preclassic, Early and Late Classic, Terminal Classic and Early Postclassic, and Late Postclassic through Historic periods. He provides an impressive, compelling introduction and co-wrote two chapters in this volume, one centering on sociopolitical anthropological interpretations rather than merely archaeological descriptions. Hence, this book is not a basic topical synthesis or even a balanced treatment of the region, but consists of stimulating essays on archaeology, art history, and epigraphy, concentrating on important subjects such as the Mesoamerican ball game, settlement systems, rituals, and the Maya collapse. Each chapter has its own endnotes and references, supplemented by 134 illustrations, 9 tables, and a useful index. Joyce Marcus has prepared a thoughtful concluding review on recent fieldwork, household archaeology, and archaeologist Will Andrews. Important for current Maya scholarship. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. C. C. Kolb National Endowment for the Humanities