Ceramic anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines occur abundantly throughout Mesoamerica during the Middle Formative period. At the site of San Andrés in Tabasco, Mexico, archaeological excavations have recovered such figurines. The context in which they were found indicates that they were used in household areas, some of which may have been related to ritual or feasting activities. A comparison of Formative period figurines from other areas in Mesoamerica demonstrates their occurrence in household areas, and as being mostly of the female gender, particularly during the Middle Formative period. The strong similarities between figurines from San Andrés and the nearby Middle Formative center of La Venta provide evidence of close interaction between the two sites and suggest that ritual behavior at San Andrés was influenced by La Venta Olmec ideology. The combination of the physical characteristics of the figurines, the contextual information, and well as ethnohistorical and ethnographic sources suggest that the San Andrés figurines may have been used for life events involving pregnancy, birth, injury or illness, or for depicting mythical or historical events. This study proposes that the ceramic figurines from San Andrés may have functioned to embody animate forces or beings of the supernatural realm that were called upon to ensure productive and reproductive success for the inhabitants of this area during the Middle Formative period. / A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Anthropology in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts. / Summer Semester, 2004. / April 23, 2004. / Figurines, Mesoamerica, San Andres, La Venta, Olmec, Formative Period, Archaeology, Mimesis / Includes bibliographical references. / Mary Pohl, Professor Directing Thesis; Kathryn Josserand, Committee Member; Michael Uzendoski, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_175965 |
| Contributors | Tway, Maria B. Derilo (authoraut), Pohl, Mary (professor directing thesis), Josserand, Kathryn (committee member), Uzendoski, Michael (committee member), Department of Anthropology (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
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