The Archaeology of Political Structure
Settlement Analysis in a Classic Maya Polity

A substantial contribution to the practice and theory of settlement studies within complex societies.

Olivier de Montmollin (Author)

9780521548021, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 January 2004

308 pages
24.7 x 18.9 x 1.7 cm, 0.568 kg

This innovative analysis of archaeological settlement patterns as a guide to ancient political structure focuses on the Maya of Southeastern Mexico. Working principally with data from the Classic Period in the Rosario Valley, Dr de Montmollin relates problem orientation and theory to themes with wide currency in political anthropolgy. For archaeologists interested in complex societies, the handling of the settlement evidence and the close attention paid to bridging arguments provide valuable guidance on analysing a multiscale settlement record when reconstructing political structure. For Mayanists, the characterization of settlement and political structure is unprecedented in its rigour and scope. The Archaeology of Political Structure thus blends the particular fascination of Maya archaeology with developments of more general interest in anthropological archaeology to make a substantial contribution to the practice and theory of settlement studies within complex societies.

List of figures
List of tables
Preface
1. Studying ancient complex politics
2. Thinking about Maya political structure
3. The Rosario polity
4. Linking Maya politics and settlement
5. Centralization
6. Differentiation and integration
7. Political regimes and microcosms
8. Political stratification
9. Mechanical versus organic solidarity
10. Segmenting versus non-segmenting organization
11. Archaeological study of Maya polities
Notes
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Archaeology by period / region [HDD]