[Aztlan] The importance of context for interpreting objects

[Michael Smith]

Seeing the Aztec sacrificial altar in Mike Ruggeri's Aztec portfolio
reminded me of a post I wrote this summer about a similar altar
excavated at Calixtlahuaca. I used it to illustrate the point that
knowing the archaeological context of objects can add immeasurably to
the richness of their interpretation and appreciation. The post is at:

 

http://calixtlahuaca.blogspot.com/2009/07/human-sacrifices-to-ehecatl-or
.html

 

 

Of course the classic Mesoamerican example of this phenomenon, focused
on Maya polychrome vessels, is by Dorie Reents-Budet. If you are not
familiar with this paper, you should be!

 

Reents-Budet, Dorie  (1994)  Collecting Pre-Columbian Art and Preserving
the Archaeological Record. In Painting the Maya Universe: Royal Ceramics
of the Classic Period, edited by Dorie Reents-Budet, pp. 290-309. Duke
University Press, Durham, NC.

 

For a recent case study from the Old World, see:

 

Hansen, Katharyn  (2008)  Why Does Archaeological Context Matter? In
Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq's Past, edited by Geoff
Emberling and Katharyn Hansen, pp. 45-49. Publications. vol. 28.
Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago, Chicago.

 

Mike

 

Michael E. Smith, Professor

School of Human Evolution & Social Change

Arizona State University

www.public.asu.edu/~mesmith9

http://publishingarchaeology.blogspot.com

http://calixtlahuaca.blogspot.com