Interregional Interaction and Dynamic Cultural Process in Mesoamerica

Archaeologists have long recognized the crucial role of interregional interaction in the development and cultural dynamics of ancient societies. In Mesoamerica, however, an expanding awareness of details in the archaeological, art historical, and epigraphic records suggests that the relationship between interaction and shifting sociocultural processes is highly complex and nuanced. The aim of this symposium is to explore the multiple potentialities of movement, migration, exchange, and interaction as catalysts for dynamic variability in cultural systems, complementing standard approaches that often focus on unidirectional causation (i.e., the appearance of talud-tablero architecture or the tripod vessel form as unilaterally indicative of a specifically “Teotihuacan” or the more nebulous “Central Mexican” presence and influence). Although not limited to specific temporal, spatial, or cultural contexts within Mesoamerica, papers examine the role that interregional exchange played in the creation of systems of shared ideologies, the production of regional or “international” artistic and architectural styles, shifting sociopolitical patterns, and dynamic changes in cultural practices, meanings, and values. The aim of this symposium is to contribute to contemporary debate by highlighting, engaging, and provoking questions pertinent to our understanding of the relationship between interregional interaction and dynamic sociocultural processes in multiple Mesoamerican cultural histories.