[Aztlan] "Mystery culture" ???

[Michael Smith]

Why is the term "mystery" applied to these finds? Leaving aside the fact
that the architecture and sculptures have been known for many years,
what is so "mysterious" about a localized sculptural style during the
Epiclassic period? Isn't this just what one would expect in an area as
rich and poorly explored as Mesoamerica, particularly in a period as
dynamic and interconnected as the Epiclassic period?

I can see only two reasons to call things like this "mysterious."

(1) If one assumes that a small number of styles were widely distributed
at any one time, perhaps because Mesoamerican peoples were not inventive
or creative, then the identification of a new local style might seem
puzzling. But who among readers here would hold such a view of ancient
Mesoamericans?

(2) If one is trying to generate publicity in non-academic settings,
then any new potsherd could be called mysterious.

I am not trying to downplay this story. We need more identification and
documentation of local findings. There was probably much more local
diversity in ancient Mesoamerica than the textbooks would imply, and
it's great when some of these finds get to be better known. But to me,
there is nothing at all "mysterious" about these objects or their
contexts. We will all await the scholarly publication of these finds
with interest.

Mike

Dr. Michael E. Smith
Professor of Anthropology
School of Human Evolution & Social Change
Arizona State University
www.public.asu.edu/~mesmith9/
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