POLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND THE EVERYDAY IN POSTCLASSIC OAXACA

    Authors

    A. A. Joyce; M. N. Levine; S. M. King; J. H. Balkin;S. B. Barber

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Anc. Mesoam.

    Keywords

    OBSIDIAN EXCHANGE; STATE FORMATION; MEXICO; COLLAPSE; HISTORY; PERSPECTIVES; ARCHAEOLOGY; AGENCY; VALLEY; COAST; Archaeology

    Abstract

    We use excavations of low-status houses to explore Postclassic political and economic transformations in the lower Rio Verde Valley, Oaxaca. Following the collapse of Classic period political institutions, commoners experienced greater economic and political autonomy. Residential excavations at Rio Viejo indicate that commoners took advantage of the absence of regional authority to gain greater control over surplus craft products, especially cotton thread, as well as access to social valuables and long distance trade. By the Late Postclassic period, the region was once again dominated by powerful rulers. Yet household excavations at Tututepec show that Late Postclassic commoners continued to control some surplus craft production and had access to social valuables like copper and polychrome pottery via market exchange. We argue that Late Postclassic political relations were a product of negotiations among elites and commoners that in part reflect the greater economic autonomy and political power that Early Postclassic people had acquired.

    Journal Title

    Ancient Mesoamerica

    Volume

    25

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    389

    Last Page

    410

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000348455600007

    ISSN

    0956-5361

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