Furthermore, Kidder’s excavation at Pecos was also Americas’ first large-scale, multi-year project at one single site, spanning from 1915 to 1929. It was also the first large-scale project to use stratigraphic excavation method (Willey 1967, 300). In 1924, Kidder published his findings at Pecos in his book: An Introduction to the Study of Southwestern Archaeology, with a Preliminary Account of the Excavations at Pecos. The book introduces Kidder’s excavation methods in the Southwest, particularly his discoveries at Pecos, with detailed backing evidence. Another significant contribution Kidder made to archaeology was that his Pecos excavation project gave younger archaeologists a chance to receive their first excavation training at a field site …show more content…
After he became head of Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Division of Historical Research in 1929, Kidder devised an archaeological research plan with Sylvanus Morley that involves a multi-vocational team. He launched studies in various fields such as archaeology, ethnology, linguistics, physical anthropology, medicine, history, and geology (Greengo 1968, 322-323; Willey 1967, 302). Kidder designed a Maya excavation research program that incorporated an over-all approach to the site’s cultural and environmental history. However, recruiting so many scholars of different fields for the project was difficult, especially during the period of World War II where many personnel would be recruited for service. In the end, Kidder’s plan was never fully carried out. In addition, the Division of Historical Research was also terminated in 1958, much to Kidder’s disappointment. Despite not being able to bring his grand plan for the Maya project into fruition, Kidder’s vision for the direction of the Carnegie Maya excavation program was still impressive in its attempt to incorporate an interdisciplinary research approach into archaeology. In addition, the archaeological data for the Maya excavation under Kidder was still very impressive in the amount of substance. There was enough data collected to construct an area chronology chart of the site. New discoveries about Maya’s relationship with other New World cultures were unearthed, and the earlier concept of “Old” and “New” Mayan empires were proven incorrect with the discovery that Petén and Yucatan occupations appeared at the same time (Greengo 1968, 323). Even though Kidder’s “pan-scientific” plan for the Maya excavation program in 1946 was never put into effect by the Carnegie Institution, the Institute of Andean Research carried out similar plans of archaeological operations in 1959-1961
Varner, John G. and Jeanette Varner., trans., ed. The Florida of the Inca. Austin: U of Texas P, 1951.
In Europe, there were several advances being made that would affect our society today. However, simultaneously, societies across the world in the Americas would too be making these types of advances as well. One society in particular were the Maya. These people made technological strides that the Europeans themselves could not even fathom. But, what was their most remarkable achievement? One will find that their achievements of their trade network, a convenient method of transporting goods and messages; architecture, intricate buildings built in large cities on a massive scale; and number system, which takes into consideration some of our key principles in today’s math, have a momentous buildup to the Maya’s most remarkable achievement—their complex calendar, an astonishing nearly accurate calendar that governed Mayan society and is still seen in our own society today.
Before the end of the 20th century archeologist began making progress in translation of the ancient writing. Discoverers believed to have solved the mystery of the Maya when archeologists J.Eric Thompson, after conducting many excavations, concluded the people of Tikal were peaceful and free from conflict. After his analysis of the hieroglyphs believe declared the Maya people were spiritual and used Tikal as ceremonial site. As studies of the Maya people continued translation of the hieroglyphs went undispu...
in North America prior to the arrival of Indo-European explorers in the 15th century, this paper will attempt to
Herrera, Esteban. "Historical Background of Pecan Plantings in the Western Region." New Mexico State University. College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, May 2005. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
C. the Aztecs’ method of building raised farmland in Lake Texcoco using soil dredged from the lake
The Maya didn’t discover metallurgy until late in the Classic period and used it only to produce jewelry and decorations for the elite. Artists and their numerous assistants cut and filled the stones used for palaces, pyramids, and housing, aided only by levers and stone tools. Each wave of construction represented the mobilization of thousands of laborers.
The Maya were an advanced society, rich and full extraordinary architecture with great complexity of patterns and variety of expressions, that flourished in Mesoamerica long before the arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. They were skilled architects, building prodigious cities of primarily of limestone that remain a thousand years after their civilization fell into decline. Greatness and Grandeur was the signature of all Mayan cities, from the terminal pre-classic period and continued until the abandonment of all the city states by the beginning of the ninth century. The Maya built pyramids, temples, palaces, walls, residences and more. The limestone structures, faced with lime stucco, were the hallmark of ancient Maya architecture.
Carlsen, Robert. The War for the Heart & Soul of a Highland Maya Town. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997.
The very roots of Maya civilization are obscure at best. However as our understanding of new and old discoveries increases, we're more able to paint a vague picture of their early beginnings. By around 2000 BC, the southern Maya area had already been occupied by early speakers of Mayan languages. We know that this area was occupied by archaic Maya groups prior
BYU Studies 38.4 (1999): 43-64. Print. The. Sharer, Robert. A. The Ancient Maya.
Before the 15th century, the Indians in the Americas were not connected with the world and would remain that way until Columbus's exploration. In the beginning of 15th century, the Aztecs were the dominant group in Mesoamerica leaded by Montezuma, the last leader, before the Spanish conquest. In 1519, Hernan Cortez led the Spanish mission to explore and conquer the New World. This paper will compare three primary sources about this event. First, an informing letter sent from Cortez to King Charles V, the king of Spain. Second, the Broken Spears which is an Indian recollection about the conquest of Mexico. Lastly, Bernal Diaz’s (one of Cortez’s men) account was written by him to share his experience with Aztec civilization. Moreover, this paper will show the credibility of Diaz’s account compared to the other sources because the objectivity of his tone, written after a while of the event, and the author’s great experience and his independent purpose of the source.
Seler, Eduard, Ernst Wilhelm Förstemann, Paul Schellhas, Karl Sapper, E. P. Dieseldorff, and Charles P. Bowditch. Mexican and Central American Antiquities, Calendar Systems, and History: Twenty-four Papers. Washington: G.P.O., 1904. Print.
The European and Mayan civilizations had inverse experiences during the Classical era, but they were similar in some aspects. While the Mayans were basking in their glorious success as a civilization, the Europeans stood in their shadow. However, after the Renaissance Era, it was as if the Mayans stood in the shadow of the European revival. These two societies have a definite inverse relationship, in that while one was succeeding, the other was squandering. For example, the forward thinking of the Mayans and their knowledge of arithmetic and science was overshadowed by the revolutionary ideas created by European scientists, the fact that the Mayans had created a complex, and accurate calendar wasn’t nearly as celebrated as a European man who got hit by an apple.
The Maya culture has a long history that started in about 1000 BC. The history of the Maya is divided up into four different time periods: The Middle Preclassic Period, Late Preclassic Period, Classic Period, and Postclassic Period. The Middle Preclassic Period was when the small areas started to become city-like in the way that they started to build larger temples. The Late Preclassic Period was when the cities began to expand with paved roads and massive pyramids. The Classic Period was the time the Maya civilization hit it’s peak. Populations were growing rapidly and the structure of politics was formed. The Postclassic Period was when warfare was on the rise and cities were being abandoned(Coe 2005). This paper will focus on the Classic Period due to the fact that that is the greatest time period in Maya history.