essay

Continuity and disjunction: Late Postclassic settlement patterns in northern Yucatan

lowland maya settlement patternsAlbuquerquePublished In 1981 • Pages: 311-332, 417-449

By: Freidel, David A..

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
Freidel examines two major concepts in this document and its effect on Maya society -- that of continuity and disjunction. In this work continuity is discussed in terms of the cultural transition from the Classic to the Postcalssic period which had a profound effect at all levels of society. These effects on the general population were expressed in changing demographic patterns and the likelihood of the forced resettlement of indigenous peoples (p. 331). The disjunctive phase involves the disruption to Maya society that resulted from a series of invasions by outsiders that occurred during and following the collaspse of the southern lowland centers around 1100 B.P.-700 B.P. (900 A.D.- 1300 A.D.). These invaders attempted to forge new political entities on the Yucatan peninsula, although what was introduced or changed by these foreigners is a matter of continuing debate. This study, then, describes in detail the problematic role of continuity and disjunction in Maya society in relation to settlement patterns in Late Postclassic northern Yucatan. Selected aspects of social organization that are reflected spatially are also examined in this study, and special emphasis placed on the results of recent investigation of the settlement patterns on Cozumel Island off the northeast coast of the peninsula (p. 312).
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Population
Structures
Architecture
Dwellings
Settlement patterns
Status, role, and prestige
Social relationships and groups
Territorial hierarchy
traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Postclassic Maya
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2001
RegionThe area the document pertains to
Middle America and the Caribbean
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Maya Area
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
essay
Evaluation
Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Archaeologist
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
4: Excellent Secondary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
John Beierle ; 2000
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
no date
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
750 BP-475 BP (1250 A.D-1525 A.D.)
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
northern Yucatan peninsula, Mexico
NotesAdditional notes
David A. Freidel
Includes bibliographical references (p. 417-449)
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
80052278
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Mayas--Antiquities