Religion in the Prehispanic Southwest

(Paperback)

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Description

Religion mattered to the prehistoric Southwestern people, just as it matters to their descendents today. Examining the role of religion can help to explain architecture, pottery, agriculture, even commerce. But archaeologists have only recently developed the theoretical and methodological tools with which to study this topic. Religion in the Prehispanic Southwest marks the first book-length study of prehistoric religion in the region. Drawing on a rich array of empirical approaches, the contributors show the importance of understanding beliefs and ritual for a range of time periods and southwestern societies. For professional and avocational archaeologists, for religion scholars and students, Religion in the Prehispanic Southwest represents an important contribution.

Reviews

This volume is a welcome addition to archaeological study in the American Southwest. Papers explore a range of interesting topics including Katsina religion, iconography, ballgames, ceremonial architecture, and religious conflict. The editors should becommended for gathering such an up-to-date and balanced mix of Puebloan and Nonpuebloan traditions. Their choices reflect the growing and exciting innovations in the archaeology of religion in the region.... -- William Walker, New Mexico State University
Advanced scholars will find it a challenging and stimulating book...larger research libraries should have a copy, as there are excellent arguments and data sets included. Summing Up: Recommended. * Choice Reviews *
As is true of all societies, religion was and is a major organizing principle among Southwestern native cultures. Over the last century or more, the religions of this area have been central to many ethnological studies. But a specific focus on religion, especially in a cross cultural context, is quite rare in archaeology. When dealing with Southwestern religion, archaeologists usually content themselves with a description of ceremonialv artifacts, structures, etc., providing little interpretation. Editors VanPool, VanPool and Phillips challenge the chapter authors of Religion in the Prehispanic Southwestv to speculate as to the meaning of the artifactual data. The result is a richly insightful and authoritative book, describing prehistoric Southwestern religions especially in their interaction with the high cultures to the south. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the native religions, past and present, of the Southwest.. -- Carrol L. Riley, Author of Becoming Aztlan: Mesoamerican Influence in the Greater Southwest, AD 1200-1500,v (2005). Distg. Professor Emeritu

This volume is a welcome addition to archaeological study in the American Southwest. Papers explore a range of interesting topics including Katsina religion, iconography, ballgames, ceremonial architecture, and religious conflict. The editors should be commended for gathering such an up-to-date and balanced mix of Puebloan and Nonpuebloan traditions. Their choices
reflect the growing and exciting innovations in the archaeology of religion in the region.

-- William Walker, New Mexico State University

As is true of all societies, religion was and is a major organizing principle among Southwestern native cultures. Over the last century or more, the religions of this area have been central to many ethnological studies. But a specific focus on religion, especially in a cross cultural context, is quite rare in archaeology.

When dealing with Southwestern religion, archaeologists usually content themselves with a description of ceremonialv artifacts, structures, etc., providing little interpretation. Editors VanPool, VanPool and Phillips challenge the chapter authors of Religion in the Prehispanic Southwestv to speculate as to the meaning of the artifactual data. The result is a richly
insightful and authoritative book, describing prehistoric Southwestern religions especially in their interaction with the high cultures to the south. This book is a "must read" for anyone interested in the native religions, past and present, of the Southwest.

-- Carrol L. Riley, Author of Becoming Aztlan: Mesoamerican Influence in the Greater Southwest, AD 1200-1500,v (2005). Distg. Professor Emeritus,

Author Bio

Christine S. VanPool is visiting assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Missouri. Todd VanPool is assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Missouri. David A. Phillips, Jr. is curator of archaeology at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology and an adjunct associate professor of anthropology at the University of New Mexico.