Mayan Social Mayan Social Organization & Urban Organization & Urban

LivingLivingSocial ComplexitySocial Complexity

Archaeology of Urban SitesArchaeology of Urban SitesExamples: Palenque, Copan & Examples: Palenque, Copan &

YaxchilanYaxchilan

Social ComplexitySocial Complexity

►Psychological EffectsPsychological Effects Cultural complexity has impacted how Cultural complexity has impacted how

people see themselves and the world.people see themselves and the world. People no longer see themselves in family People no longer see themselves in family

relationships, but they see their unlimited relationships, but they see their unlimited wants and limited means.wants and limited means.►Hunter-gatherers have little means, so few Hunter-gatherers have little means, so few

wants.wants.►Richard Lee who studied the !kung bushmen Richard Lee who studied the !kung bushmen

once gave them a 1200 pound ox for a feast, but once gave them a 1200 pound ox for a feast, but everyone in the group complained about how everyone in the group complained about how scrawny the animal was and how poor the gift. scrawny the animal was and how poor the gift. They did this to retain equanimity in the group.They did this to retain equanimity in the group.

►Earliest records indicate people were Earliest records indicate people were fed up with poverty, taxes, oppressive fed up with poverty, taxes, oppressive rulers, government harassment.rulers, government harassment.

►Often utopian movements to return to Often utopian movements to return to a simpler life (communism).a simpler life (communism).

►People in “civilized” societies see People in “civilized” societies see those in “uncivilized” societies as not those in “uncivilized” societies as not fully developed.fully developed.

People in complex societies see People in complex societies see themselves as replaceablethemselves as replaceable

Maya: Chiefdom or State?Maya: Chiefdom or State?

► ChiefdomsChiefdoms regionally organized societies.regionally organized societies. hereditary inequalityhereditary inequality differences in prestige, wealth and power.differences in prestige, wealth and power. early Hawaiian societies.early Hawaiian societies.

► States/EmpiresStates/Empires stratified, complex systems.stratified, complex systems. control of many people, distinct hierarchy.control of many people, distinct hierarchy. empires have tremendous size and influences a empires have tremendous size and influences a

large area (Mesopotamia, Inca, Aztec).large area (Mesopotamia, Inca, Aztec).

Neither: City-StateNeither: City-State

► Neither during the Classic period nor at any other Neither during the Classic period nor at any other time does there seem to have been any political time does there seem to have been any political unification of the area as a whole. unification of the area as a whole.

► Rather, political organization seems to have been Rather, political organization seems to have been described by a series of small, city-state-like described by a series of small, city-state-like polities, each characterized by its own internal polities, each characterized by its own internal differentiation of status and power. differentiation of status and power.

► While much earlier literature refers to professional While much earlier literature refers to professional rulers and priests, the present view is that the rulers and priests, the present view is that the higher-status individuals were more probably heads higher-status individuals were more probably heads of patrilineages, and that much of the religious of patrilineages, and that much of the religious complex was centered on ancestor worship rather complex was centered on ancestor worship rather than on universal gods. than on universal gods.

Civic CentersCivic Centers

►These civic centers were numerous, These civic centers were numerous, including Copán in Honduras, El including Copán in Honduras, El Mirador, Piedras Negras, Tikal, and Mirador, Piedras Negras, Tikal, and Uaxactún in the N central Petén region Uaxactún in the N central Petén region of Guatemala, and Palenque and of Guatemala, and Palenque and Uxmal in Mexico. Uxmal in Mexico.

Origins of Cultural ComplexityOrigins of Cultural Complexity

► Irrigation AgricultureIrrigation Agriculture►Warfare/Population GrowthWarfare/Population Growth►Craft SpecializationCraft Specialization► IdeologyIdeology►Multi-faceted ExplanationsMulti-faceted Explanations

HydraulicHydraulic HypothesisHypothesis

► Suggested that irrigation works and water Suggested that irrigation works and water distribution required the growth of a distribution required the growth of a bureaucracy bureaucracy

► Julian Steward: Bureaucracies were Julian Steward: Bureaucracies were developed due to an increase in intensive developed due to an increase in intensive agriculture and the need to develop systems agriculture and the need to develop systems of waterways.of waterways.

► Karl Wittfogel: pointed out (as Steward did) Karl Wittfogel: pointed out (as Steward did) that early civilizations appeared in regions that early civilizations appeared in regions where large-scale irrigation agriculture was where large-scale irrigation agriculture was practiced. practiced.

Craft SpecializationCraft Specialization

► Trade and ExchangeTrade and Exchange organization to produce trade items required administration.organization to produce trade items required administration.

► V. Gordon Childe: suggested that civilization V. Gordon Childe: suggested that civilization resulted from increasing specialization which was resulted from increasing specialization which was made possible by technological innovations which made possible by technological innovations which allowed for increased production and the allowed for increased production and the accumulation of surplus accumulation of surplus specialization of labor began with itinerant experts specialization of labor began with itinerant experts

► if single village could not produce enough surplus to sustain a if single village could not produce enough surplus to sustain a craftsman, he would take advantage of the resources of several craftsman, he would take advantage of the resources of several

► cites evidence of wandering smiths in Bronze Age cites evidence of wandering smiths in Bronze Age specialists left kinship groups and had to form new specialists left kinship groups and had to form new

institutions, which society changed to accomodate institutions, which society changed to accomodate urbanism "rescued" craftsmen from nomadism and urbanism "rescued" craftsmen from nomadism and

guaranteed them security in a new social organizationguaranteed them security in a new social organization

IdeologyIdeology

► Geoff Conrad and Arthur Demarest, among others: Geoff Conrad and Arthur Demarest, among others: Integrative power of great art styles or religions Integrative power of great art styles or religions (Willey 1962) (Willey 1962)

► Association of myth of solar struggle with Association of myth of solar struggle with Huitzilopochtli gave state a divine sanction Huitzilopochtli gave state a divine sanction state cult of accelerated warfare and mass sacrifice was a state cult of accelerated warfare and mass sacrifice was a

timely ideological adaptation to the political environment timely ideological adaptation to the political environment of 15th century Mexico of 15th century Mexico

fell within the bounds of traditional Mesoamerican religious fell within the bounds of traditional Mesoamerican religious thinking thinking

state cult was also economically adaptive state cult was also economically adaptive central Mexican city-states relied heavily on tribute from central Mexican city-states relied heavily on tribute from

military victories military victories sacrificial cosmology gave them the competitive edge of sacrificial cosmology gave them the competitive edge of

fanaticism in these conquests fanaticism in these conquests

WarfareWarfare► Population growth in an area where land is Population growth in an area where land is

scarce leads to warfare over land rights and scarce leads to warfare over land rights and states developed as a way to organize war.states developed as a way to organize war.

► Robert Carneiro: theory grows out of Robert Carneiro: theory grows out of hypotheses which emphasize the hypotheses which emphasize the importance of population growth and importance of population growth and population pressure population pressure hypothesis is based on general regularity about hypothesis is based on general regularity about

the environmental settings of early civilizations the environmental settings of early civilizations throughout the world throughout the world ► they are areas of circumscribed agricultural land they are areas of circumscribed agricultural land ► each area is bounded by mountains, seas, or deserts, each area is bounded by mountains, seas, or deserts,

which sharply delimited the area that simple farming which sharply delimited the area that simple farming people could have occupied people could have occupied

Warfare con’dWarfare con’d

► Expanding population could not accommodate itself by Expanding population could not accommodate itself by colonizing new lands colonizing new lands

► instead, it had to intensify production on lands already instead, it had to intensify production on lands already being used being used

► military conflicts between groups became more frequent military conflicts between groups became more frequent losers were not able to flee to new farmlands losers were not able to flee to new farmlands were assimilated into the winner's society as a lower class were assimilated into the winner's society as a lower class

► successful militarists were rewarded by economic successful militarists were rewarded by economic wealth, increasing amounts of land, and a conquered wealth, increasing amounts of land, and a conquered class of workers class of workers

► Adaptive advantages of organizing and controlling a Adaptive advantages of organizing and controlling a successful military operation quickly lead to successful military operation quickly lead to institutionalization in the form of an early state institutionalization in the form of an early state

► state then grows in size as a result of external state then grows in size as a result of external conquests conquests

Multi-faceted TheoriesMulti-faceted Theories► Robert McAdams: considered causation and structure of Robert McAdams: considered causation and structure of

civilization from a multifaceted perspective civilization from a multifaceted perspective stated that the evidence supports the position that "the stated that the evidence supports the position that "the

transformation at the core of the Urban Revolution lay in the realm transformation at the core of the Urban Revolution lay in the realm of social organization... For the most part, changes in social of social organization... For the most part, changes in social institutions precipitated changes in technology, subsistence, and institutions precipitated changes in technology, subsistence, and other aspects of the wider cultural realm, rather than vice versa." other aspects of the wider cultural realm, rather than vice versa."

Urban Revolution implied focus on ordered, systematic processes Urban Revolution implied focus on ordered, systematic processes of change that can be described in terms of a functionally related of change that can be described in terms of a functionally related core of institutions that interacted and evolved core of institutions that interacted and evolved

► attempts to avoid the term civilization by investigating attempts to avoid the term civilization by investigating the complex core of social institutions that interacted to the complex core of social institutions that interacted to form early state society form early state society

► model does not favor single-factor explanations, but model does not favor single-factor explanations, but emphasizes complexity and systemic relationships emphasizes complexity and systemic relationships

► three major transformations: first two led to urban centers three major transformations: first two led to urban centers that were controlled by a religious elite and the third that were controlled by a religious elite and the third resulted in growth of secular state authority resulted in growth of secular state authority

Archaeology of Complex Archaeology of Complex SocietiesSocieties

►ArchitectureArchitecture►Mortuary EvidenceMortuary Evidence►Settlement PatternsSettlement Patterns

ArchitectureArchitecture

► Monumental architectureMonumental architecture► Public structuresPublic structures► Formal classes of architectureFormal classes of architecture

temples, palaces, ball courts, raised roads (saches), and temples, palaces, ball courts, raised roads (saches), and reservoirs, marketplaces, stelae, fortifications.reservoirs, marketplaces, stelae, fortifications.

temples on elevated terraces, little space inside, elaborate temples on elevated terraces, little space inside, elaborate caches of exotic materials.caches of exotic materials.

palaces refers to multiple room, multiple story buildings some palaces refers to multiple room, multiple story buildings some were for elite living quarters, others for administration.were for elite living quarters, others for administration.

ball courts in most cities, but rules varied from place to place.ball courts in most cities, but rules varied from place to place. saches were elevated roads that connected building groups saches were elevated roads that connected building groups

(15 feet high and 60 feet wide).(15 feet high and 60 feet wide). reservoirs needed because drainage in the area a problem, so reservoirs needed because drainage in the area a problem, so

underground storage containers (chultuns) were dug.underground storage containers (chultuns) were dug. marketplaces where trade took place, regional market marketplaces where trade took place, regional market

systems.systems. stelae are carved stone shafts associated with temples, stelae are carved stone shafts associated with temples,

historical monuments.historical monuments.

Mortuary EvidenceMortuary Evidence

►Variability of mortuary customs, that is Variability of mortuary customs, that is informative.informative. types of burials.types of burials. burial goods.burial goods.

Settlement PatternsSettlement Patterns

►Settlement Size and ConfigurationSettlement Size and Configuration►Placements of SettlementPlacements of Settlement

settlements of towns and villages that settlements of towns and villages that exchange goods and services tend to form exchange goods and services tend to form a pattern of interlocking hexagons.a pattern of interlocking hexagons.

provides insights into social, political and provides insights into social, political and economic changes.economic changes.

Example: PALENQUEExample: PALENQUE

►LocationLocation foot of northernmost hills of Chiapas foot of northernmost hills of Chiapas

►Sierra de Palenque Sierra de Palenque

rainfall close to 3000 mmrainfall close to 3000 mm southwestern periphery of Maya area southwestern periphery of Maya area

Dynastic sequence at Dynastic sequence at PalenquePalenque

► Pacal (Shield) Pacal (Shield) born in 603, acceded in 615 at the age of 12, born in 603, acceded in 615 at the age of 12,

ruled for 68 years (615-683) ruled for 68 years (615-683) began construction of Temple ca. 675, died in began construction of Temple ca. 675, died in

683 at the age of 80 683 at the age of 80

► Chan Bahlum or Can Balam (Snake Jaguar) II Chan Bahlum or Can Balam (Snake Jaguar) II acceded to the throne when he was 48, 132 days acceded to the throne when he was 48, 132 days

after the death of his father, on January 10, 684 after the death of his father, on January 10, 684 responsible for finishing father's temple responsible for finishing father's temple

Pacal’s TombPacal’s Tomb

►Discovered in the Temple of the Discovered in the Temple of the Inscriptions.Inscriptions.

► It was on June 15, 1952, that AIfred It was on June 15, 1952, that AIfred Ruz and his excavation crew looked Ruz and his excavation crew looked upon a tomb that had been hidden upon a tomb that had been hidden away for over twelve centuries. away for over twelve centuries.

Stairway to TombStairway to Tomb

http://www.usu.edu/anthro/origins_of_writing/pacal/optimized/11.jpg

Tomb

Lid of Sarcophagus

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueTomb/PalenqueTomb.htm

Jade Funeral Mask of Pacal

Reproduction of tomb

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueTomb/PalenqueTomb.htm

Buildings and monumentsBuildings and monuments

►Temple of the Inscriptions Temple of the Inscriptions ►Cross Group (Temple of the Cross)Cross Group (Temple of the Cross)►Temple of the Foliated Cross Temple of the Foliated Cross ►Ball CourtBall Court

Palace and the Temple of Palace and the Temple of InscriptionsInscriptions

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueRuins/PalenqueRuins.htm

Palace: West StepsPalace: West Steps

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueRuins/PalenqueRuins.htm

Palace Stucco ReliefPalace Stucco Relief

L - Pacal,

R - ZacKuk, His MotherOr His Wife, Ahpo-Hel.

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueRuins/PalenqueRuins.htm

Cross GroupCross Group

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueRuins/PalenqueRuins.htm

Temple of the Foliated CrossTemple of the Foliated CrossA.D. 692A.D. 692

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueRuins/PalenqueRuins.htm

Ballcourt A.D. 500Ballcourt A.D. 500

http://www.delange.org/PalenqueRuins/PalenqueRuins.htm

Copan’s DynastyCopan’s Dynasty► Yax Kuk Mo' Yax Kuk Mo'

lineage founder lineage founder death or burial 9.0.2.0.0 (AD 437) death or burial 9.0.2.0.0 (AD 437)

► Cu Ix-no other infoCu Ix-no other info► Waterlily Jaguar-no other infoWaterlily Jaguar-no other info► Moon Jaguar Moon Jaguar

tomb found in 1992 tomb found in 1992 ► Butz Chan Butz Chan

Accedes: 9.7.5.0.8 (AD 578), death 9.9.14.16.9 (AD 628) Accedes: 9.7.5.0.8 (AD 578), death 9.9.14.16.9 (AD 628) ► Smoke Imix Smoke Imix ► 18 Rabbit: accedes 9.13.3.6.8 (AD 695) 18 Rabbit: accedes 9.13.3.6.8 (AD 695) ► Smoke Monkey: accession 9.15.6.16.5, 39 days after 18 Rabbit's Smoke Monkey: accession 9.15.6.16.5, 39 days after 18 Rabbit's

death death ► Smoke Shell: accession 9.15.17.13.10 (AD 749), dedication of Smoke Shell: accession 9.15.17.13.10 (AD 749), dedication of

hieroglyphic stairway 9.15.17.13.10 (AD 749).hieroglyphic stairway 9.15.17.13.10 (AD 749).► Yax Pac Yax Pac

also known as "Sun-at-Horizon" or "Madrugada" also known as "Sun-at-Horizon" or "Madrugada" 16th and last known ruler 16th and last known ruler dedication of Altar Q 9.17.5.0.0 (AD 775) dedication of Altar Q 9.17.5.0.0 (AD 775)

► U Cit Tok: attempted accession 9.19.11.14.5 (AD 822) U Cit Tok: attempted accession 9.19.11.14.5 (AD 822)

Copan Hieroglyphic StairwayCopan Hieroglyphic Stairway

http://www.delange.org/Copan1/Copan1.htm

Copan Ball CourtCopan Ball Court

http://www.delange.org/Copan1/Copan1.htm

Altar Q Shows the 16 Kings Of Copan Passing Baton Of RuleDown Through The Generations

http://www.delange.org/Copan1/Copan1.htm

YaxchilanYaxchilan

►Yaxchilan was inhabited between Yaxchilan was inhabited between 200AD and 800AD. 200AD and 800AD.

► It can only be accessed by river or by It can only be accessed by river or by air.air.

http://www.thresholds.net/yaxchilan/yaxchilan0.html

Yaxchilan: Dynastic Yaxchilan: Dynastic sequence sequence

►Nearly complete dynastic record on Nearly complete dynastic record on monuments monuments

► Early Classic Early Classic Penis-Jaguar: lineage founder Penis-Jaguar: lineage founder Shield-Jaguar I Shield-Jaguar I Bird-Jaguar I Bird-Jaguar I Yax-Antler-Skull:5th ruler Yax-Antler-Skull:5th ruler Tah-Skull I Tah-Skull I Moon-Skull I Moon-Skull I Bird-Jaguar II Bird-Jaguar II Knot-Eye Jaguar Knot-Eye Jaguar Tah-Skull II Tah-Skull II

Yaxchilan: Dynastic Yaxchilan: Dynastic sequencesequence

► Late Classic rulers Late Classic rulers 6-Tun-Bird-Jaguar: accedes ca. 630 6-Tun-Bird-Jaguar: accedes ca. 630

►wife is Lady Pacal, mother of Shield Jaguarwife is Lady Pacal, mother of Shield Jaguar Shield-Jaguar Shield-Jaguar

►must have been named as heir at an early datemust have been named as heir at an early date►mention at Palenque that a brother of Shield Jaguar mention at Palenque that a brother of Shield Jaguar

participated in a war event led by Pacalparticipated in a war event led by Pacal►accedes to power on October 23, 681, at same time as accedes to power on October 23, 681, at same time as

Chan Bahlum, rules for about 50 years Chan Bahlum, rules for about 50 years Bird-Jaguar III Bird-Jaguar III

►succeeds father in 752 succeeds father in 752 ► ten year period before he accedes, entered office at age ten year period before he accedes, entered office at age

32 32 Shield-Jaguar II Shield-Jaguar II Tah-Skull III, marital connections with Bonampak Tah-Skull III, marital connections with Bonampak

and El Peru and El Peru ►Defeated by Dos Pilas Defeated by Dos Pilas http://www.travelchiapas.com/arc/site-3b.php

Yaxchilan, Chiapas, MexicoYaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico

Yaxchilan: Main plazaYaxchilan: Main plaza

http://www.raingod.com/angus/Gallery/Photos/NorthAmerica/Mexico/Chiapas/Yaxchilan.html

Angus McIntyre 2001

Yaxchilan: Building 33Yaxchilan: Building 33

http://www.raingod.com/angus/Gallery/Photos/NorthAmerica/Mexico/Chiapas/Yaxchilan.html

Angus McIntyre 2001

Stone and Lintel Carvings at Stone and Lintel Carvings at YaxchilanYaxchilan

The majority of lintel and stele carvings commemorate the important historical events occurring during the reign of King Jaguar Shield, his famous wives Lady Xoc and Lady Eveningstar, and his son Bird Jaguar who ruled here in the 8th century.

http://www.mayasites.com/yaxch.html