Oswaldo Chinchilla | Yale University (original) (raw)

Books by Oswaldo Chinchilla

Research paper thumbnail of The technology of Maya civilization: Political economy and beyond in lithic studies

Research paper thumbnail of The decipherment of ancient Maya writing

... Stela 24 at Naranjo and Stela 11 at Yaxchilan 245 31.3. Palenque, Temple of the Cross 247 32.... more ... Stela 24 at Naranjo and Stela 11 at Yaxchilan 245 31.3. Palenque, Temple of the Cross 247 32.1. Yaxchilan Lintel 8 257 32.2. Yaxchilan Lintel 41 258 32.3. Various examples of the Large Venus Compound 259 32.4. Tortuguero Monument 8 260 Page 17. Illustrations xiii 32.5. ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Technology of Maya Civilization: Political Economy and Beyond in Lithic Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions, Volume 10, Part 1: Cotzumalhuapa

Research paper thumbnail of Art and Myth of the Ancient Maya

" This is an important book which will have a lasting influence on Mesoamerican scholarship and s... more " This is an important book which will have a lasting influence on Mesoamerican scholarship and serve as a model for generations to come. It is a compelling study that will open up new areas for investigation of Maya art and new methods for research. " —Claudia Brittenham, University of Chicago This nuanced account explores Maya mythology through the lens of art, text, and culture. It offers an important reexamination of the mid-16th-century Popol Vuh, long considered an authoritative text, which is better understood as one among many crucial sources for the interpretation of ancient Maya art and myth. Using materials gathered across Mesoamerica, Oswaldo Chinchilla Mazariegos bridges the gap between written texts and artistic representations, identifying key mythical subjects and uncovering their variations in narratives and visual depictions. Central characters—including a secluded young goddess, a malevolent grandmother, a dead father, and the young gods who became the sun and the moon—are identified in pottery, sculpture, mural painting, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. Highlighting such previously overlooked topics as sexuality and generational struggles, this beautifully illustrated book paves the way for a new understanding of Maya myths and their lavish expression in ancient art.

Research paper thumbnail of Cotzumalguapa, la ciudad arqueológica: El Baúl-Bilbao-El Castillo

An overview of the archaeology of Cotzumalhuapa, addressed to a general audience with description... more An overview of the archaeology of Cotzumalhuapa, addressed to a general audience with descriptions of the Classic city, and the sites of El Baúl, Bilbao, and El Castillo. Table of contents:
1. Palabras introductorias
2. Cotzumalguapa
3. Historia cultural de Cotzumalguapa
4. La ciudad del periodo Clásico (650-950 d. C.)
5. El Baúl
6. El Museo de El Baúl
7. El Castillo
8. Bilbao
9. El Museo de la Cultura de Cotzumalguapa (Finca Las Ilusiones)
10. Los pueblos coloniales
11. Esculturas de Cotzumalguapa en Guatemala y Berlín
12. Ejemplos de artefactos encontrados en El Baúl
13. Nomenclatura de los monumentos de Cotzumalguapa
14. Para leer más
15. Recomendaciones para el visitante
16. Lista de figuras
17. Lista de recuadros

Research paper thumbnail of Imágenes de la Mitología Maya

Research paper thumbnail of Arqueologia Subacuática: Amatitlán, Atitlán

Describes the ceremonial deposits of ceramic censers and other materials from Lake Amatitlán, exp... more Describes the ceremonial deposits of ceramic censers and other materials from Lake Amatitlán, explored by amateur divers in the 1950's and 60's, including the sites of Contreras, Mexicanos, La Barca, Zarzal, Mata, and others. The photographs and drawings bring to light a major corpus of ancient Mesoamerican art that has remained largely overlooked. At Lake Atitlán, recent explorations revealed the archaeological site of Samabaj, a Preclassic village that was abandoned as a consequence of a geological event that caused the lake waters to rise about 30 meters. Selected finds from Samabaj are also illustrated.

Research paper thumbnail of (2011) THE TECHNOLOGY OF MAYA CIVILIZATION: POLITICAL ECONOMY AND BEYOND IN LITHIC STUDIES

"The ancient Maya shaped their world with stone tools. Lithic artifacts helped create the citysca... more "The ancient Maya shaped their world with stone tools. Lithic artifacts helped create the cityscape and were central to warfare and hunting, craft activities, cooking, and ritual performance. The Technology of Maya Civilization examines Maya lithic artefacts made of chert, obsidian, silicified limestone, and jade to explore the relationship between ancient civilizations and natural resources. The volume presents case studies of archaeological sites in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. The analysis draws on innovative anthropological theory to argue that stone artefacts were not merely cultural products but tools that reproduced, modified, and created the fabric of society.
"

Research paper thumbnail of The Decipherment of Ancient Maya Writing

Research paper thumbnail of Historia Popular de Guatemala, Tomo I, Epoca Precolombina

Read in http://www.fundacionhcg.org/libros/hpdg/#p=16 A general overview of the Precolumbian his... more Read in http://www.fundacionhcg.org/libros/hpdg/#p=16
A general overview of the Precolumbian history and archaeology of Guatemala, addressed to the general public. List of chapters:
1. El medio físico y el origen del nombre Guatemala (by J. Daniel Contreras R.)
2. Mesoamérica y el Area Maya
3. Los primeros habitantes: De la recolección a la agricultura
4. Los señoríos preclásicos del Altiplano y la Costa Sur
5. Los orígenes de la civilización maya de las Tierras Bajas
6. El clásico temprano en el Altiplano y la Costa Sur
7. Cotzumalguapa y el clásico tardío en el Altiplano y la Costa Sur
8. Historia y organización social de los mayas clásicos
9. Calendario, escritura y religión de los mayas clásicos
10. Arquitectura y artes de los mayas clásicos
11. Economía, política y el colapso del periodo clásico
12. Política y sociedad durante el postclásico temprano
13. Sociedad, economía y cultura durante el postclásico tardío

Papers by Oswaldo Chinchilla

Research paper thumbnail of Un instrumento musical en el arte de Cotzumalguapa ¿Variante del tecomapiloa?

37 Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala, 2024, 2024

Los instrumentos musicales representados en los monumentos 4 y 21 de Bilbao, Cotzumalguapa, Guate... more Los instrumentos musicales representados en los monumentos 4 y 21 de Bilbao, Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala son comparables con los xilófonos de una sola nota, documentados en el sureste asiático y África central. Sin embargo, una comparación más cercana se corresponde con el tecomapiloa, un instrumento que se empleaba en las fiestas mexicas en el siglo XVI, el cual fue descrito por los informantes de Sahagún. El instrumento consiste en un teponaztli pequeño, unido a un recipiente que le sirve como caja de resonancia. El instrumento del monumento 4 de Bilbao seguramente es una variante del tecomapiloa. El instrumento del monumento 21 es más complejo pero también es posible que se corresponda con una variante del tecomapiloa.

Research paper thumbnail of Residue analysis suggests ritual use of tobacco at the ancient Mesoamerican city of Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala

Antiquity, 2024

The widespread significance of tobacco in Mesoamerica is documented in historical and ethnographi... more The widespread significance of tobacco in Mesoamerica is documented in historical and ethnographic sources, yet recovery of the organic remains of this plant from archaeological contexts is rare. Here, the authors present evidence for the ritual use of tobacco at Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala, during the Late Classic period (AD 650-950). Detection of nicotine in residue analysis of three cylindrical ceramic vases recovered from cache deposits near the El Baúl acropolis suggests that these vessels contained tobacco infusions or other liquid preparations. These results suggest an ancient ritual practice involving tobacco for which there was previously no physical evidence in Mesoamerica.

Research paper thumbnail of Contra el despotismo, la superstición y la ignorancia: El informe de Miguel Rivera Maestre sobre Utatlán e Iximché (1834)

Anales de la Academia de Geografía e Historia de Guatemala, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of En la corte de los dioses de la luna: Los mitos lunares mayas y los patronos del Glifo C

La Ciencia y el Arte de las Vasijas Policromas Mayas: Contextualizando una Colección, editado por Diana Magaloni y Megan E. O'Neil, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of In the Court of the Moon Gods: Maya Lunar Myths and the Patrons of Glyph C

The Science and Art of Maya Painted Ceramic Vessels: Contextualizing a Collection, edited by Diana Magaloni and Megan E. O'Neil , 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Using Ground-Penetrating Radar to Examine Spatial Organization at the Late Classic Maya Site of El Baúl, Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala

Research paper thumbnail of 4 Historia Política De La Zona De Piedras Negras: Las Inscripciones De El Cayo

En años recientes ha surgido en los estudios Mayas un interés renovado por comprender la organiza... more En años recientes ha surgido en los estudios Mayas un interés renovado por comprender la organización interna de las entidades políticas Clásicas. Este es un aspecto tradicionalmente poco investigado, pues el énfasis principal de los estudios de organización política Maya Clásica se ha orientado a las relaciones entre los centros principales. Este ensayo trata de explorar los mecanismos que permitían la cohesión (o ausencia de ella) en las entidades políticas Clásicas. Entendemos dicha cohesión como una situación de equilibrio entre fuerzas centrípetas y centrífugas, o sea entre tendencias opuestas hacia la centralización y descentralización. En el área Maya, las relaciones entre centros primarios y secundarios han sido abordadas principalmente en Tikal y Copan (Haviland 1981; Fash 1991), a partir tanto de bases epigráficas como de los estudios de patrón de asentamiento. En el Usumacinta, se ha prestado alguna atención a los textos del área de Yaxchilan (Stuart 1984; Schele y Freide...

Research paper thumbnail of Arqueología y medio ambiente del Petén

Research paper thumbnail of Las ruinas de Palenque y el debate sobre el origen de los indios en la Guatemala del Siglo XVIII

La arqueología ilustrada americana: La universalidad de una disciplina, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The technology of Maya civilization: Political economy and beyond in lithic studies

Research paper thumbnail of The decipherment of ancient Maya writing

... Stela 24 at Naranjo and Stela 11 at Yaxchilan 245 31.3. Palenque, Temple of the Cross 247 32.... more ... Stela 24 at Naranjo and Stela 11 at Yaxchilan 245 31.3. Palenque, Temple of the Cross 247 32.1. Yaxchilan Lintel 8 257 32.2. Yaxchilan Lintel 41 258 32.3. Various examples of the Large Venus Compound 259 32.4. Tortuguero Monument 8 260 Page 17. Illustrations xiii 32.5. ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Technology of Maya Civilization: Political Economy and Beyond in Lithic Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions, Volume 10, Part 1: Cotzumalhuapa

Research paper thumbnail of Art and Myth of the Ancient Maya

" This is an important book which will have a lasting influence on Mesoamerican scholarship and s... more " This is an important book which will have a lasting influence on Mesoamerican scholarship and serve as a model for generations to come. It is a compelling study that will open up new areas for investigation of Maya art and new methods for research. " —Claudia Brittenham, University of Chicago This nuanced account explores Maya mythology through the lens of art, text, and culture. It offers an important reexamination of the mid-16th-century Popol Vuh, long considered an authoritative text, which is better understood as one among many crucial sources for the interpretation of ancient Maya art and myth. Using materials gathered across Mesoamerica, Oswaldo Chinchilla Mazariegos bridges the gap between written texts and artistic representations, identifying key mythical subjects and uncovering their variations in narratives and visual depictions. Central characters—including a secluded young goddess, a malevolent grandmother, a dead father, and the young gods who became the sun and the moon—are identified in pottery, sculpture, mural painting, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. Highlighting such previously overlooked topics as sexuality and generational struggles, this beautifully illustrated book paves the way for a new understanding of Maya myths and their lavish expression in ancient art.

Research paper thumbnail of Cotzumalguapa, la ciudad arqueológica: El Baúl-Bilbao-El Castillo

An overview of the archaeology of Cotzumalhuapa, addressed to a general audience with description... more An overview of the archaeology of Cotzumalhuapa, addressed to a general audience with descriptions of the Classic city, and the sites of El Baúl, Bilbao, and El Castillo. Table of contents:
1. Palabras introductorias
2. Cotzumalguapa
3. Historia cultural de Cotzumalguapa
4. La ciudad del periodo Clásico (650-950 d. C.)
5. El Baúl
6. El Museo de El Baúl
7. El Castillo
8. Bilbao
9. El Museo de la Cultura de Cotzumalguapa (Finca Las Ilusiones)
10. Los pueblos coloniales
11. Esculturas de Cotzumalguapa en Guatemala y Berlín
12. Ejemplos de artefactos encontrados en El Baúl
13. Nomenclatura de los monumentos de Cotzumalguapa
14. Para leer más
15. Recomendaciones para el visitante
16. Lista de figuras
17. Lista de recuadros

Research paper thumbnail of Imágenes de la Mitología Maya

Research paper thumbnail of Arqueologia Subacuática: Amatitlán, Atitlán

Describes the ceremonial deposits of ceramic censers and other materials from Lake Amatitlán, exp... more Describes the ceremonial deposits of ceramic censers and other materials from Lake Amatitlán, explored by amateur divers in the 1950's and 60's, including the sites of Contreras, Mexicanos, La Barca, Zarzal, Mata, and others. The photographs and drawings bring to light a major corpus of ancient Mesoamerican art that has remained largely overlooked. At Lake Atitlán, recent explorations revealed the archaeological site of Samabaj, a Preclassic village that was abandoned as a consequence of a geological event that caused the lake waters to rise about 30 meters. Selected finds from Samabaj are also illustrated.

Research paper thumbnail of (2011) THE TECHNOLOGY OF MAYA CIVILIZATION: POLITICAL ECONOMY AND BEYOND IN LITHIC STUDIES

"The ancient Maya shaped their world with stone tools. Lithic artifacts helped create the citysca... more "The ancient Maya shaped their world with stone tools. Lithic artifacts helped create the cityscape and were central to warfare and hunting, craft activities, cooking, and ritual performance. The Technology of Maya Civilization examines Maya lithic artefacts made of chert, obsidian, silicified limestone, and jade to explore the relationship between ancient civilizations and natural resources. The volume presents case studies of archaeological sites in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. The analysis draws on innovative anthropological theory to argue that stone artefacts were not merely cultural products but tools that reproduced, modified, and created the fabric of society.
"

Research paper thumbnail of The Decipherment of Ancient Maya Writing

Research paper thumbnail of Historia Popular de Guatemala, Tomo I, Epoca Precolombina

Read in http://www.fundacionhcg.org/libros/hpdg/#p=16 A general overview of the Precolumbian his... more Read in http://www.fundacionhcg.org/libros/hpdg/#p=16
A general overview of the Precolumbian history and archaeology of Guatemala, addressed to the general public. List of chapters:
1. El medio físico y el origen del nombre Guatemala (by J. Daniel Contreras R.)
2. Mesoamérica y el Area Maya
3. Los primeros habitantes: De la recolección a la agricultura
4. Los señoríos preclásicos del Altiplano y la Costa Sur
5. Los orígenes de la civilización maya de las Tierras Bajas
6. El clásico temprano en el Altiplano y la Costa Sur
7. Cotzumalguapa y el clásico tardío en el Altiplano y la Costa Sur
8. Historia y organización social de los mayas clásicos
9. Calendario, escritura y religión de los mayas clásicos
10. Arquitectura y artes de los mayas clásicos
11. Economía, política y el colapso del periodo clásico
12. Política y sociedad durante el postclásico temprano
13. Sociedad, economía y cultura durante el postclásico tardío

Research paper thumbnail of Un instrumento musical en el arte de Cotzumalguapa ¿Variante del tecomapiloa?

37 Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala, 2024, 2024

Los instrumentos musicales representados en los monumentos 4 y 21 de Bilbao, Cotzumalguapa, Guate... more Los instrumentos musicales representados en los monumentos 4 y 21 de Bilbao, Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala son comparables con los xilófonos de una sola nota, documentados en el sureste asiático y África central. Sin embargo, una comparación más cercana se corresponde con el tecomapiloa, un instrumento que se empleaba en las fiestas mexicas en el siglo XVI, el cual fue descrito por los informantes de Sahagún. El instrumento consiste en un teponaztli pequeño, unido a un recipiente que le sirve como caja de resonancia. El instrumento del monumento 4 de Bilbao seguramente es una variante del tecomapiloa. El instrumento del monumento 21 es más complejo pero también es posible que se corresponda con una variante del tecomapiloa.

Research paper thumbnail of Residue analysis suggests ritual use of tobacco at the ancient Mesoamerican city of Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala

Antiquity, 2024

The widespread significance of tobacco in Mesoamerica is documented in historical and ethnographi... more The widespread significance of tobacco in Mesoamerica is documented in historical and ethnographic sources, yet recovery of the organic remains of this plant from archaeological contexts is rare. Here, the authors present evidence for the ritual use of tobacco at Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala, during the Late Classic period (AD 650-950). Detection of nicotine in residue analysis of three cylindrical ceramic vases recovered from cache deposits near the El Baúl acropolis suggests that these vessels contained tobacco infusions or other liquid preparations. These results suggest an ancient ritual practice involving tobacco for which there was previously no physical evidence in Mesoamerica.

Research paper thumbnail of Contra el despotismo, la superstición y la ignorancia: El informe de Miguel Rivera Maestre sobre Utatlán e Iximché (1834)

Anales de la Academia de Geografía e Historia de Guatemala, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of En la corte de los dioses de la luna: Los mitos lunares mayas y los patronos del Glifo C

La Ciencia y el Arte de las Vasijas Policromas Mayas: Contextualizando una Colección, editado por Diana Magaloni y Megan E. O'Neil, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of In the Court of the Moon Gods: Maya Lunar Myths and the Patrons of Glyph C

The Science and Art of Maya Painted Ceramic Vessels: Contextualizing a Collection, edited by Diana Magaloni and Megan E. O'Neil , 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Using Ground-Penetrating Radar to Examine Spatial Organization at the Late Classic Maya Site of El Baúl, Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala

Research paper thumbnail of 4 Historia Política De La Zona De Piedras Negras: Las Inscripciones De El Cayo

En años recientes ha surgido en los estudios Mayas un interés renovado por comprender la organiza... more En años recientes ha surgido en los estudios Mayas un interés renovado por comprender la organización interna de las entidades políticas Clásicas. Este es un aspecto tradicionalmente poco investigado, pues el énfasis principal de los estudios de organización política Maya Clásica se ha orientado a las relaciones entre los centros principales. Este ensayo trata de explorar los mecanismos que permitían la cohesión (o ausencia de ella) en las entidades políticas Clásicas. Entendemos dicha cohesión como una situación de equilibrio entre fuerzas centrípetas y centrífugas, o sea entre tendencias opuestas hacia la centralización y descentralización. En el área Maya, las relaciones entre centros primarios y secundarios han sido abordadas principalmente en Tikal y Copan (Haviland 1981; Fash 1991), a partir tanto de bases epigráficas como de los estudios de patrón de asentamiento. En el Usumacinta, se ha prestado alguna atención a los textos del área de Yaxchilan (Stuart 1984; Schele y Freide...

Research paper thumbnail of Arqueología y medio ambiente del Petén

Research paper thumbnail of Las ruinas de Palenque y el debate sobre el origen de los indios en la Guatemala del Siglo XVIII

La arqueología ilustrada americana: La universalidad de una disciplina, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of La antigüedad indigena como ejemplo, escarmiento y gloria en la Recordación Florida de Francisco Antonio de Fuentes y Guzman

La arqueología ilustrada americana: La universalidad de una disciplina, editado por Jorge Maier Allende y Leonardo López Luján, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Chinchilla-Mejia Una Escultura Olmeca en Escuintla. El Monumento 11 de Reynosa

XXXI Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala, 2017, 2018

Las investigaciones recientes en el sitio de Reynosa, Escuintla, revelaron un importante conjunto... more Las investigaciones recientes en el sitio de Reynosa, Escuintla, revelaron un importante conjunto de esculturas preclásicas. Entre ellas destaca el monumento 11, un fragmento labrado en relieve que, a pesar de su mal estado de conservación, conserva elementos iconográficos que pueden caracterizarse como de estilo olmeca. En esta ponencia se describe el monumento 11, su procedencia arqueológica y su probable fechamiento. A la vez, se analiza la iconografía de la escultura y su relación con otras representaciones en esculturas y objetos portátiles de estilo olmeca. Estas comparaciones ponen de relieve los contactos culturales de las comunidades preclásicas de Escuintla con sus vecinos en la Costa Sur y otras regiones de Mesoamérica.

Research paper thumbnail of Flower Worlds: Religion, Aesthetics, and Ideology in Mesoamerica and the American Southwest

Mathiowetz, Michael D., and Andrew D. Turner, eds. Flower Worlds: Religion, Aesthetics, and Ideology in Mesoamerica and the American Southwest. Amerind Seminars in Anthropology. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Pus, Pustules, and Ancient Maya Gods: Notes on the Names of God S and Hunahpu

The PARI Journal, 2020

In this paper, I question Francisco Ximénez’s interpretation of the colonial K'iche' god Hunahpu,... more In this paper, I question Francisco Ximénez’s interpretation of the colonial K'iche' god Hunahpu, as "One Blowgun Hunter." I discuss the terminology of blowgun hunting in Maya languages, explore the calendrical connotations of the name and its links to the name of God S in Maya hieroglyphic writing. I explore the connotations of God S and Hunahpu as solar heroes, and offer an interpretation of the hieroglyphic name tag of God S on the Classic Maya vase K7727 as Jun Pu’w, “One Pus.”

Research paper thumbnail of The Southern Cities: Urban Archaeology in Pacific Guatemala and Eastern Soconusco, Mexico

Journal of Archaeological Research, 2020

Recent research is shedding light on the long and precocious urban tradition of the Pacific coas... more Recent research is shedding light on the long and precocious urban tradition of the
Pacific coastal rim of southeastern Mesoamerica, from eastern Soconusco, Mexico,
to Escuintla, Guatemala. The available data provide a basis to discuss variations in
urban shape and functions, and to a lesser extent, urban life and meaning at Formative
and Classic cities, plus brief mention of Late Postclassic cities. Pacific coastal
cities are larger and earlier than previously thought, and their investigation is relevant
for comparative studies that aim to understand the variability of ancient urban
societies in Mesoamerica and beyond.

Research paper thumbnail of Temples to the Great Bird:  Architecture, Mythology, and Ritual in Teotihuacan-Style Censers from Escuintla, Guatemala

Res: Anthropology and Aesthetics, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Moradas Oscuras: Un Ensayo de Interpretación de los Templos Mesoamericanos

Tiempo Detenido, Tiempo Suficiente: Ensayos y Narraciones Mesoamericanistas en Homenaje a Alfonso Lacadena García-Gallo. Asociación Europea de Mayistas. European Associations of Mayanists, Belgium. , 2018

In ancient Mesoamerica, temples were regarded as dwellings for the gods, and at the same time, as... more In ancient Mesoamerica, temples were regarded as dwellings for the gods, and at the same time, as mountains that sheltered the gods in their depths. The analogy has been amply demonstrated by archaeological, epigraphic, and iconographic studies, while ethnographic studies show the resilience of such beliefs. Yet there are unresolved questions about their religious underpinnings. How do we explain the belief that the gods live inside the mountains, in terms of Mesoamerican cosmology? What implications does it have for our understanding of the gods and their nature? In this contribution, I propose explanations based on mythical passages, which suggest that the gods shared the qualities of the inhabitants of former eras, who were unable to endure light, and hid under the earth when the sun came out. As such, they belong to a prior realm, before the current world. They are incapable of living in the open earth and do not partake in the moral order of human society. They are analogous to the immoral beings that inhabit the wilderness or live in distant countries. With their shapes that approximate the hills, and their restricted chambers, like dark caves, the temples provide appropriate spaces to serve as dwellings for the gods.

Research paper thumbnail of Imágenes Sexuales en el Popol Vuh

Anales de Antropología, 2018

Sexual encounters have received little attention in previous studies of the Popol Vuh. This artic... more Sexual encounters have received little attention in previous studies of the Popol Vuh. This article is a study of sexual connotations conveyed through figures of speech in four passages of the k’iche’ text. The figures of speech include metaphors, allusions, and double entendres, whose meanings are not evident at first glance. The present analysis is based on studies of the lexicon, combined with comparisons with parallel passages in other myths from Mesoamerica, and comparisons with ethnographic data compiled in modern communities. As noted in multiple studies around the world, literary figures in the Popol Vuh are based primarily on the links between sexuality with food. The identification of sexual contents in these passages opens a new perspective in the study of the Popol Vuh. Sixteenth-century Maya myths are consistent with other Mesoamerican myths, in which the primordial creative processes often involve genesic themes and sexual transgressions.

Research paper thumbnail of Classic Maya Culture, History, and Myth

Ancient Maya Art at Dumbarton Oaks, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Technologies of urbanism in Mesoamerica: the pre-Columbian bridges of Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala

Antiquity, 2018

Despite the high degree of technological sophistication visible in other aspects of urban enginee... more Despite the high degree of technological sophistication visible in other aspects of urban engineering, the archaeology of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica has revealed curiously few examples of bridges or formal, permanent water-crossing structures. The ancient city of Cotzumalhuapa, where at least five such structures have been identified, is a notable exception. The author reviews the archaeological and historical evidence for these bridges, and reflects upon the diversity of engineering technologies that they reveal. Although it remains unclear why bridges are absent at many other contemporaneous sites, these examples offer a fascinating glimpse into the urban planning of structured mobility in Mesoamerica.

Research paper thumbnail of Fire and Sacrifice in Mesoamerican Myths and Rituals

Smoke, Flames, and the Human Body in Mesoamerican Ritual Practice, edited by Vera Tiesler and Andrew Scherer. Dumbarton Oaks, Washington D.C., 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Perdida y Encontrada: La Colección Arqueológica del Primer Museo Nacional de Guatemala

Conferencia dictada en Casa Herrera, Antigua Guatemala

Research paper thumbnail of Tras las Huellas del Primer Museo Nacional de Guatemala

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzs2ZS0DBrM Conferencia dictada en el Centro de Estudios Mayas, ... more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzs2ZS0DBrM
Conferencia dictada en el Centro de Estudios Mayas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 13 de marzo de 2018.

Research paper thumbnail of Pedro de Alvarado, Tonatiuh y el debate de la apoteosis en la conquista de Guatemala y México

Conferencia presentada para HistoriaGT

Research paper thumbnail of Arte y mitos de los antiguos mayas

Research paper thumbnail of La muerte de Tecum: La conquista de Guatemala y los mitos mesoamericanos

The death of the K'iche' captain Tecum (also known as Tecun Uman) in the battle of Quetzaltenango... more The death of the K'iche' captain Tecum (also known as Tecun Uman) in the battle of Quetzaltenango, fighting against the Spanish invaders led by Pedro de Alvarado, is traditionally considered as a turning point in the Spanish conquest of Guatemala. However, multiple debates have ensued around the veracity and the significance of this event. In this talk, an examination of sixteenth-century narratives of Tecum's death suggests that these narratives are modeled after Mesoamerican solar and lunar myths, which provided a framework to explain the defeat of the K'iche' lords.

Research paper thumbnail of El Arte y la Escritura de Cotzumalguapa

An overview of recent research on the art and archaeology of Cotzumalhuapa, Escuintla, Guatemala.... more An overview of recent research on the art and archaeology of Cotzumalhuapa, Escuintla, Guatemala. Reports recent excavations at El Baúl and Bilbao, the major architectural compounds of Cotzumalhuapa, with observations on the context and iconography of the Cotzumalhuapa sculptured monuments.

Research paper thumbnail of Un Misterio Mesoamericano: El Dios con Pie de Serpiente

Michael D. Coe presents his arguments on the relationship between the Maya god K'awiil (God K) an... more Michael D. Coe presents his arguments on the relationship between the Maya god K'awiil (God K) and the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca. Oswaldo Chinchilla expands these comparisons to include the Classic Maya Maize God. As represented in Classic Maya art, the mythology of the Maize God finds close parallels in sixteenth-century accounts of the Aztec feast of Toxcatl, dedicated to Tezcatlipoca.

Research paper thumbnail of El Nacimiento del Sol en Tikal

https://newmedia.ufm.edu/video/el-nacimiento-del-sol-en-tikal/ An Early Classic burial excavat... more https://newmedia.ufm.edu/video/el-nacimiento-del-sol-en-tikal/

An Early Classic burial excavated by Oswaldo Gómez at the Plaza of the Seven Temples, Tikal, has important implications for the interpretation of the adjacent E Group compound of Mundo Perdido. In this presentation, the burial is interpreted as the result of ritual that reenacted the Mesoamerican myth of the origin of the sun and the moon, as a result of the sacrifice of two heroes in a blazing pyre or oven. The authors also suggest that the architectural layout of E Groups replicates the mythical geography of the place of the origin of the sun.

Research paper thumbnail of El Mito del Colibrí en el Arte Maya Clásico

https://newmedia.ufm.edu/video/el-mito-del-colibri-en-el-arte-maya/ A widespread Mesoamerican ... more https://newmedia.ufm.edu/video/el-mito-del-colibri-en-el-arte-maya/

A widespread Mesoamerican myth tells about the union of a tightly guarded maiden and a disguised hero. This talk explores the representations of this narrative in ancient Maya art, interpreted in the light of a broad comparison of multiple versions of this myth.

Research paper thumbnail of La Cosecha Gloriosa: El Cacao y el Sacrificio Humano en Mesoamérica

Chocolate and blood mixed well in ancient Mesoamerica. Cacao pods were often associated with sacr... more Chocolate and blood mixed well in ancient Mesoamerica. Cacao pods were often associated with sacrificial victim's hearts or heads, while the drinks prepared from cacao seeds were often equated with blood. This talk explores the symbolism of cacao and human sacrifice, with emphasis on the iconography of stone sculptures and clay artifacts from the Pacific coast of Guatemala.

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Cotzumalguapa Informes Análisis Materiales Cotzumalguapa Temp 2018-2020

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Los Chatos-Montana. Temporada de Campo 2022. Informe Final

Proyecto Arqueológico Los Chatos-Montana. Temporada de Campo 2022. Informe Final, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Cotzumalguapa Informes Análisis Materiales Cotzumalguapa Temp 2018-

Archaeological report submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia, Ministerio de Cultur... more Archaeological report submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia, Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, describing the results of analyses of materials recovered from field research at Los Sujuyes and El Baúl, Cotzumalguapa.

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueologico Cotzumalguapa Informe 2020

Archaeological report submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia, Ministerio de Cultur... more Archaeological report submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia, Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Guatemala, describing the results of field research conducted in 2020 at Los Sujuyes and El Baúl, Cotzumalguapa

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueologico Cotzumalguapa Informe 2019

Archaeological Report submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia, Ministerio de Cultur... more Archaeological Report submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia, Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, describing field research conducted in 2019 at Los Sujuyes and El Baúl, Cotzumalguapa.

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa, Temporada 2007. Sondeo Arqueológico Proyecto Inmobiliario Ciudad España

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueologico El Baúl Informe Final de la Temporada 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Informe Final de la Temporada 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Rescate del Monumento 81 de El Baúl 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa, Informe Final de la Temporada 2010-2011

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Residenciales Santa Lucía: Investigaciones al Oeste de la Acrópolis de Bilbao, Cotzumalguapa, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Informe De La Temporada 2007

Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Cas... more Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Castillo). Submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala.

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Informe de la Temporada 2006

Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalhuapa (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Castillo), Escuintla, Gua... more Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalhuapa (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Castillo), Escuintla, Guatemala. Submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala.

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Informe de la Temporada 2002

Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Cas... more Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Castillo). Submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala.

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Informe de la Temporada 2000-2001

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Informe de la Temporada 1999-2000

Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Cas... more Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala (El Baúl, Bilbao, El Castillo). Submitted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala.

Research paper thumbnail of Proyecto Arqueológico Cotzumalguapa: Informe de la Temporada 1996-1997

Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalhuapa, including rescue excavations at El Baúl in 19... more Report of archaeological research at Cotzumalhuapa, including rescue excavations at El Baúl in 1996-1997.