Copan : The Rise And Fall Of An Ancient Maya Kingdom - 00 edition

Summary: Case Study in Archaeology, the Quilter Series This case study reconstructs and evaluates the sociopolitical system and culture history of a world famous Classic Maya Center in the highlands of Western Honduras, whose great temples, palaces, and carved monuments have been investigated since the 1830s. Using material from a series of archaeological excavations begun in 1975 that have focused on reconstructing the entire Copan Kingdom, this book presents to students for ...show more the first time an interpretation of the political, demographic, and agricultural history of the entire region. In addition, the case provides an extensive review of the methods used to reconstruct what happened at Copan. Students will have the opportunity to learn about what archaeologists do to reconstruct whole ancient systems, at the same time as they learn about what a well-known Maya kingdom was like, and what happened to it. This summary of the largest Maya settlement project conducted is a classic topic that all students need to be exposed to, and that is discussed in nearly every introductory book on the market today.
Key Features

• This is the most up-to-date book available on Copan; professors will be able to provide students with the most current information and students will have the opportunity to update their knowledge of the Maya and their culture.
• The text is written in such a way that it makes complicated topics understandable. It allows professors to expand where necessary and students to grasp ideas on their own.
• Copan emphasizes 2 main themes: 1) the research projects and methods that the authors, along with many other colleagues, have used to reconstruct the growth and decline of a major Maya polity, and 2) the specific reconstructed events and culture history that derive from this research. The aim of this text is to tell the story about what the authors know and why they think they know what they do.
• Provides a methodological focus that exposes students to a wide array of archaeological methods while directly showing their applications.
• Demonstrates how professionals from several disciplines work together to arrive at conclusions. This allows professors to highlight their own specialties, and students to see a wide range of career opportunities.
• The Copan case study illustrates first-hand how science is done in archaeology. It contains a strong presentation of methods and theory in archaeology and shows students how to apply archaeological methods to test hypotheses.
• Includes many original photographs and maps so students can easily visualize what the authors are describing.
• Chapter summaries are included at the end of each chapter to highlight the main points of the chapter and to re-focus the students on the important material covered.

Edition/Copyright: 00
Cover: Hardcover
Publisher: Harcourt Brace or Harcourt Press
Published: 10/13/1999

View Author Bio

Webster, David : Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

Freter, AnnCorinne : Ohio University Main Campus

Gonlin, Nancy : Bellvue Community College

View Table of Contents

Chapter 1--Copan: Investigating a Classic Maya Kingdom and its Environment

Introduction
The Main Group and the Urban Core
Settlement, Landscape, and Household Archaeology
Landscape, Environment, and Agriculture

Chapter 2--Regional and Dynastic History

Introduction
The Predynastic Copan Maya
The Copan Dynastic Sequence

Chapter 3--The History and Character of Copan Research

Introduction
Archaeological Research at Copan before 1980
The PAC II Project: Goals and Research Design
Non-Penn State Related Projects since 1980

Summary

Chapter 4--Elite Household Archaeology at Las Sepulturas

Introduction
Distribution of Elite Sites
Character and Functions of Elite Households

Summary and Interpretations

Chapter 5--The PAC II Regional Settlement Survey: Setting, Methodology, and Results

Introduction
The PAC II Survey
Results of the Rural Survey

Summary

Chapter 6--Test Excavations: PAC II Methods and Results

Introduction
Test Pit Research Design and Methodology
Site Configuration
General Site Chronology
Evidence of Economic Specialization

Summary

Chapter 7--Rural Household Excavations in the Copan Valley

Introduction
Research Design
The Sites
Results and Interpretations

Chapter 8--The Ancient Copan Environment

Introduction
Reconstructing Ancient Environments at Copan

Summary

Chapter 9--Bioanthropology at Copan: Paleopathology, Paleodemography, and Diet

Introduction
The Copan Burial Sample
Paleodemography and Paleopathology
Reconstructing Diet

Summary

Chapter 10--Chronology of Copan Settlement

Introduction
The Copan Obsidian Hydration Dating Project
Chronological Results and Revisions
Testing the Hydration Results: A Concordance Experiment

Summary

Chapter 11--Population and Agricultural History of the Copan Kingdom

Introduction
Reconstructing Population History at Copan: The Settlement
Model
Copan Population History
Agricultural History of the Copan Kingdom: The Soil Model
Comparison of the Soil and Settlement Models

Summary

Chapter 12--Eighth Century Copan: The Kingdom at its Height

Introduction
The Urban Status of Copan
Political and Social Organization
The Agrarian Economy
The Political Economy
Territorial Extent and Influence of the Copan Polity

Summary

Chapter 13--The Collapse of the Copan Kingdom

Introduction
Explanations of the Classic Maya Collapse
The Classic Collapse at Copan
Explaining the Copan Collapse

Summary

Chapter 14--Overview of Copan Research

References Cited