Household Rituals in the Ancient Americas – from Patio Groups to Pueblos

In this session we would like to explore the role of household ritual practices in society, specifically their role in social change. We are interested in the reflexive relationship between domestic and public rituals in ancient American societies. For instance, how do rituals performed at different scales and in different contexts affect or structure socio-political relations? Archaeologists working in different regions of the Americas have approached such issues from various theoretical perspectives and employing various methodologies. They have addressed ritualization, resistance, kinship, and gender, among other anthropological themes. By bringing together a diverse group of scholars, we hope to provoke new ideas, questions, and debates about ritual activities carried out in residential contexts.