Pre-Columbian Landscapes of Creation and Origin (Electronic book text)

Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures have inspired a special fascination among historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, as well as the general public. As one of the earliest known and studied civilizations, their creation mythologies hold a special interest. Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures are particularly known for having a strong connection with the natural landscape, and weaving it into their mythologies. A landscape approach to archaeology in these areas is uniquely useful shedding insight into their cultural beliefs, practices, and values. The ways in which these cultures imbued their landscape with symbolic significance influenced the settlement of the population, the construction of monuments, as well as their rituals and practices. This edited volume combines research on Pre-Columbian cultures throughout Central and South America, examining their constructed monuments and ritual practices. It explores the foundations of these cultures, through both the creation mythologies of ancient societies as well as the tangible results of those beliefs. It offers insight on specific case studies, combining evidence from the archaeological record with sacred texts and ethnohistoric accounts. The patterns developed throughout this work shed insight on the effect that perceived sacredness can have on the development of culture and society. This comprehensive and much-needed work will be of interest to archaeologists and anthropologists focused on Mesoamerican studies, as well as those in the fields of cultural or religious studies with a broader geographic focus.