"Bundling the sticks": tallies in Classic Maya inscriptions
Author(s): Alexandre Tokovinine
Year: 2016
Summary
This presentation addresses a set of references to “sticks” in Classic Maya inscriptions, which have been traditionally interpreted as weapons. The available contexts, however, indicate that “sticks” were involved in tribute payment transactions. Although there is no archaeological evidence of these presumably perishable wooden items, the author highlights some visual and material data that support the use of tallies by the Maya. The discussion then centers on less straightforward textual contexts of “sticks” and the implications of the tally hypothesis for our understanding of Classic Maya accounting practices.
Cite this Record
"Bundling the sticks": tallies in Classic Maya inscriptions. Alexandre Tokovinine. Presented at The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Orlando, Florida. 2016 ( tDAR id: 403011)
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Keywords
Geographic Keywords
Mesoamerica
Spatial Coverage
min long: -107.271; min lat: 12.383 ; max long: -86.353; max lat: 23.08 ;