The Ancient Maya
ANT 310
Spring 2009
Class Discussion Questions
1). What was the central thesis of the McAnany article?
2). List the sources of information Patricia McAnany used in her research project at K’axob.
3). How can Dr. McAnany make the assertions she does regarding linkages between ancestor veneration, land tenure and unequal access to resources among the ancient Maya at Middle and Late Formative K’axob? What’s the evidence for these linkages?
4). Are Dr. McAnany’s arguments concerning the above linkages convincing? Why/why not?
5). What is a termination cache? Give an example of the kinds of materials recovered in some of the termination caches in Operation 1 at K’axob.
6). What does Dr. McAnany say one should expect to see in the archaeological record if ancestors are being ‘created’ at Middle and Late Formative Period sites, such as K’axob?
7). What kinds of materials were recovered in the feature Dr. McAnany calls “the first, formalized shrine at K’axob?” Why would or why wouldn’t you agree that this feature is a shrine?