Tenam Puente and its Highland Neighbours in the Early Postclassic Period

Date/Time: 
Jeudi, avril 28, 2022 - 13:00
Presentation Type: 
Oral
Presentation Format: 
Online - pre-recorded
Author(s): 
Elizabeth Paris - University of Calgary
Roberto Lopez Bravo - Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas
Gabriel Lalo Jacinto - INAH-Chiapas

This paper examines the reorganization of social, economic, and political networks in the Chiapas highlands during the Early Postclassic period, In the ninth century, many Maya polities in the Southern Lowlands experienced the collapse of their systems of dynastic rulership, resulting in few carved monuments with Long Count dates and the abandonment of many political centers. Notably, many sites in the Chiapas highlands avoided these negative outcomes, including the larger highland cities of Tenam Puente, Toniná, Lagartero and Chinkultic, as well as smaller centers in the western highlands such as Moxviquil. We examine archaeological evidence for the strategies by which these kingdoms embarked on new political and economic strategies during the Early Postclassic period, including the economic reorganization of long-distance exchange connections, engagement with long-distance professional merchants, and the promotion of new types of luxury goods. These innovations provide insight into the sources of political and economic resiliency utilized by these polities to pivot to new opportunities during a time of widespread political restructuring.