Understanding the Subterranean: An Examination of the Effects of Analogy in Maya Cave Studies

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Subterranean in MesoAmerican Sacred Landscapes: A Multidisciplinary Assessment" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This paper explores the pivotal role of ethnographic analogy in archaeological research, with a focus on Maya cave ritual. While ethnographic analogy remains indispensable to the field, it faced heavy resistance from Processualists during the latter half of the twentieth century. This resistance led to the misapplication of Western models of religion to non-Western societies, highlighting the need for reevaluation through the integration of ethnographic methods. This paper discusses the rise of analogic models of Maya cave use derived from ethnography. Further, it addresses the need for analogy to study the subterranean, the effects of analogy in the interpretation of cultural material, and a greater understanding of Maya religion. Lastly, this paper will examine the ways ethnographic analogy is employed today and if this methodology is still relevant to Maya cave studies.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• The Subterranean in MesoAmerican Sacred Landscapes: A Multidisciplinary Assessment

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53546