Description: Comprised of 12 chapters by leading archaeologists, Mesoamerican Archaeology engages the chronological benchmarks of precolumbian social development in the region.
Review Quotes: "This is not the same old culture history but a respectable compilation of recent fieldwork and analysis within a framework of innovative problem-oriented research. Joyce's introductory chapter is a synthetic tour de force." Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
"With specially commissioned essays by leading scholars, this is an excellent up-to-date introduction to Mesoamerican archaeology." Oxbow Books
"In this volume archaeologists have, at last, a textbook on Mesoamerica that combines recent data with current social thought. The chapters are beautifully written and provocative, giving deeper insight into Mesoamerican cultural diversity without simplifying 5000 years into a single story. Hendon and Joyce have chosen contributors who are not just specialists, but who are some of the most exciting thinkers of our generation." K. Anne Pyburn, Indiana University
"Mesoamerican Archaeology: Theory and Practice is an outstanding book. It is exactly what we've needed in the field for a very long time and should be used by everyone teaching a course in Mesoamerican archaeology. Hendon and Joyce have done an outstanding job of integrating fresh essays by leading scholars into a text that is both theoretically informed and empirically up to date. The combination of theory and data make it an indispensable work." Michael Love, California State University, Northridge