Description
The article discusses the relationship between ritual and trade in the Pasion-Verapaz region of Guatemala. It highlights how ritual spaces can be used to track population movement and interregional trade. The author also presents a model for understanding highland-lowland interaction and cultural changes over 2,000 years of Maya history. The article focuses on three cave systems that were important trade shrines during the Preclassic and Classic Maya civilizations, located near the highland-lowland transition on the Great Western Trade Route.
Ritual space has been shown to be a sensitive barometer to examine population movement and interregional transit and trade. Woodfill details changes in ritual paraphernalia and ritual practice over 2,000 years of Maya history, creating a preliminary model for highland-lowland interaction and changing local cultural affiliations. In addition, he elucidates the varied functions of ritual in Preclassic and Classic Maya civilization.In the Candelaria, San Francisco, and Hun Nal Ye cave systems, many important trade shrines were in use from the beginning of complex society in Mesoamerica to just after the collapse of Classic Maya civilization. All were located at or near the highland-lowland transition in Central Guatemala on the Great Western Trade Route, the principal trade artery connecting the Maya highlands and lowlands.
Related Products
