Reuse, Rubble, and Relations to Place at Ancient Maya Cities

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Reinvent, Reclaim, Redefine: Considerations of "Reuse" in Archaeological Contexts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This paper traces histories of reused stone and space at ancient Maya cities. Space/Place theorists have documented the ways that physical spaces have layers of meaning tied to their history of use. In the Maya area, archaeologists have documented myriad ways in which Maya individuals have engaged with and related to reused materials/places prior to European Colonialism. These studies have shown how interacting with materials from the past is an important part of ritual practices that crafted a sense of community and validated ancestral connections to place. At the same time, contemporary activities relating to the reuse of ancient Maya sites and materials are undervalued and, in some cases, stigmatized. Through a focus on reuse, this paper reflects on the broader ways individuals and communities can engage with and forge connections to archaeological spaces. I argue that by tracing histories of reuse and contextualizing their significance and meaning, archaeologists can better frame and engage with the meanings that are generated in contexts of reuse, which has implications for community engagement and notions of heritage.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Reinvent, Reclaim, Redefine: Considerations of "Reuse" in Archaeological Contexts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 40161.0