Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America

Preface

This little book is intended as a general commentary and explanation of the more important phases of the ancient life and arts of the Indians of Mexico and Central America, and especially of their history. The substance of it is drawn from many sources, for the anthropologist must mould together and harmonize the gross results of several sciences. Archæology, ethnology, somatology, and linguistics all make their special contributions and we are only on the threshold of our subject. In the Mexican and Central American field we find the accumulated writings that result from four hundred years of European contact with the Indians and in addition a mass of native documents and monumental inscriptions expressed in several hieroglyphic systems.

The general method of this book will be to take up in order the recognized “horizons” of pre-Columbian history, beginning with the earliest of which we have knowledge. In relation to each horizon we will examine the records and discuss the principal developments in arts, beliefs, and social structures. The introductory chapter is designed to put before the reader such facts as may be necessary for a ready understanding of the discussions and explanations that will follow.

The Mexican Hall of the American Museum of Natural History furnishes illustrations of most of the facts given herewith. This Hall contains both originals and casts brought together by various expeditions of the Museum and of other scientific institutions. The principal patrons of science whose names should be mentioned in connection with the upbuilding of these collections are: Willard Brown, Austin Corbin, R. P. Doremus, Anson W. Hard, Archer M. Huntington, Morris K. Jesup, James H. Jones, Minor C. Keith, the Duke of Loubat, William Mack, Henry Marquand, Doctor William Pepper, A. D. Straus, I. McI. Strong, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Villard, William C. Whitney. But thanks are also due to innumerable persons who have contributed single specimens and small collections as well as those who have placed information at the disposal of the scientific staff. The principal collectors have been: George Byron Gordon, Aleš Hrdlička, Carl Lumholtz, Francis C. Nicholas, Marshall H. Saville, Eduard Seler, Herbert J. Spinden, and John L. Stephens.

Text Figures

1. The Great Snowstorm of 1447 shown in the Pictographic Record of the Aztecs 13 2. A Mexican Picture of a Volcanic Eruption 16 3. Yucatan Deer caught in a Snare 20 4. The Moan Bird, or Yucatan Owl, personified as a Demigod 20 5. Spanish Ship in the Aubin Codex 22 6. Cortez arrives with Sword and Cross and Moctezuma brings him Gold 25 7. Aztecan Canoe. Lienzo de Tlaxcala 26 8. Design on Modern Huichol Ribbon 37 9. Woven Pouch of the Huichol Indians 37 10. Atzcapotzalco Destroyed 47 11. Diagram of Culture Strata at Atzcapotzalco 48 12. Teocentli or Mexican Fodder Grass 51 13. Archaic Figurines from Central Mexico 55 14. Archaic Figurines—Zapotlan, Jalisco; Tampico, Vera Cruz; and Cuesta Blanca, Salvador 55 15. Archaic Figurine from Salvador 56 16. Types of Eyes of Archaic Figurines 57 17. Textile Designs painted on Archaic Effigies 58 18. Typical Tripod Vessels of the Archaic Period, from Morelos, Mexico 59 19. Series showing the Modification of a Celt into a Stone Amulet 61 20. Groundplans of Yaxchilan Temples 77 21. Cross-section of Typical Mayan Temple in Northern Yucatan 78 22. Mask Panel over Doorway at Xkichmook, Yucatan 84 23. Design on Engraved Pot representing a Tiger seated in a Wreath of Water Lilies. Northern Yucatan 86 24. Painted Design on Cylindrical Bowl showing Serpent issuing from a Shell Salvador 86 25. Mayan Basket represented in Stone Sculpture 88 26. Typical Elaborated Serpents of the Mayas 90 27. Conventional Serpent of the Mayas used for Decorative Purposes 91 28. Upper Part of Serpent Head made into a Fret Ornament 92 29. Sculpture on Front of Lintel at Yaxchilan 93 30. Types of Human Heads on the Lintels of Yaxchilan 94 31. Sculpture on Upper Part of Stela 11, Seibal 95 32. The Ceremonial Bar 98 33. The Manikin Scepter 99 34. The Two-Headed Dragon 100 35. Gods in the Dresden Codex 101 36. The Front Head of the Two-Headed Dragon on Stelæ at Piedras Negras showing the Increase in Flamboyant Treatment 105 37. Grotesque Face on the Back of Stela B, Copan 108 38. Jaguar in Dresden Codex with a Water Lily attached to Forehead 108 39. Late Sculpture from Chichen Itza 109 40. The Twenty Day Signs 112 41. The Nineteen Month Signs of the Mayan Year 115 42. Bar and Dot Numerals of the Mayas 119 43. Face Numerals found in Mayan Inscriptions 121 44. The Normal Forms of the Period Glyphs 121 45. Face Forms of Period Glyphs 121 46. Hieroglyphs of the Four Directions 127 47. Hieroglyphs containing the Phonetic Element kin 127 48. Mayan Ceremony as represented in the Dresden Codex 132 49. Diagram of the Astronomical Base Line at Copan giving Readings at April 9 and September 2 138 50. Representations of the Moon 142 51. The Last Glyph of the Supplementary Series 142 52. Comparison of Mayan and Zapotecan Serpent Heads 156 53. Bar and Dot Numerals combined with Hieroglyphs on Zapotecan Monuments 157 54. Detail of Wall Construction at Mitla 161 55. Wall Paintings of Mitla 163 56. The Eyes of Totonacan Figurines 165 57. Jointed Doll of Clay from San Juan Teotihuacan 178 58. Pottery Plates from Cholula with Decorations in Several Colors 180 59. Vessel with “Cloisonné” Decoration in Heavy Pigments 184 60. The Turtle Motive as developed in Negative Painting with Wax at Totoate, Jalisco 185 61. Jaguar Head on Disk-Shaped Stone, Salvador 187 62. Front View and Profile View Serpent Heads in Chorotegan Art 190 63. Jaguar Design associated with Figurines that still retain Archaic Characters, Costa Rica 191 64. Jaguars from painted Nicoyan Vases 191 65. Highly Conventionalized Jaguar Motive 193 66. Simple Crocodile Figures in Red Lines on Dishes from Mercedes, Costa Rica 194 67. Panels containing Crocodiles painted in White Lines on Large Tripod Bowls from Mercedes, Costa Rica 194 68. Simplified Crocodile Heads in the Yellow Line Ware of Mercedes, Costa Rica 194 69. Conventional Crocodiles from Costa Rica and Panama 197 70. Pictographic Record of the Fighting near the Springs of Chapultepec 207 71. Details from the Stone of Tizoc 219 72. Detail showing the Construction of the Face of Coatlicue 223 73. Hieroglyphs of Precious Materials 224 74. Phonetic Elements derived from Pictures and used in Mexican Place Name Hieroglyphs 224 75. Aztecan Place Names 225 76. Aztecan Day Signs 226 77. Variant Forms of Aztecan Day Signs 226 78. Aztecan Numbers and Objects of Commerce 227 79. Analysis of Mexican Record 231 80. Chalchuihtlicue, Aztecan Goddess of Water 232 81. A Mexican Orchestra 241 82. Mexican Blanket with the Design that represents interlacing Sand and Water called “Spider Water” 243 83. The Year Symbol of Southern Mexico 245 84. Year Bearers in the Codex Porfirio Diaz ascribed to the Cuicatecan Tribe 246 85. A Page from the Codex Nuttall, recording the Conquest of a Town situated on an Island of the Sea 247 86. The God Macuilxochitl, Five Flower, as shown in a Mexican Codex and in Pottery from Southern Mexico 248