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When Worlds Collide: Understanding the Effects of Maya-Teotihuacán Interaction on Ancient Maya Identity and Community

My research, centered at the Early Classic (350-450 AD) site of La Sufricaya, located in the Holmul region of Peten, Guatemala, examines a contested topic in Ancient Maya history âthe nature of cross-cultural interaction between the Maya and Teotihacán- through the lens of ethnic identity. In doing so I suggest that cross-cultural interaction creates moments of ethnogenesis in which Maya rulers created an elite imagined regional community that was based on symbols of rulership derived from Teotihuacán and cemented by the exchange, trade and gifting of foreign material culture that served as practices of affiliation. My research combines the analysis of archaeological material remains, historical hieroglyphic inscriptions, and art historical analysis of iconography to elucidate how contact with foreigners may have affected life at La Sufricaya, as well as the impact on elite Maya identity on a regional level. My excavations within the palace sought to elucidate the sociopolitical history of La Sufricaya, including its role within the Holmul region and the nature of cross-cultural interaction between the Maya of La Sufricaya and Teotihuacán. Evidence suggests that the lords of La Sufricaya were involved in, or witness to, the 11 Eb Entrada (378 AD) events that ushered in a new political regime that was tied to Teotihuacán and focused at the nearby site of Tikal.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-03272017-140856
Date28 March 2017
CreatorsFoley, Jennifer Marie
ContributorsWilliam R. Fowler, Ph.D., John Wayne Janusek, Ph.D., Annabeth Headrick, Ph.D., Markus Eberl, Ph.D., Francisco Estrada-Belli, Ph.D.
PublisherVANDERBILT
Source SetsVanderbilt University Theses
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-03272017-140856/
Rightsunrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report.

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