Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica

Eduardo Williams obtained his Ph.D. from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, in 1989. He joined the faculty of the Colegio de Michoacán (Zamora, Mexico) in 1990, where he holds the post of Professor in the Center for Archaeological Research. He has published several books, including La sal de la tierra (2003, winner of the Alfonso Caso Prize awarded by the Mexican Institute of Anthropology and History), and Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene (Archaeopress, 2020). Professor Williams has been a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences since 2002.

Preface ;



Chapter I: Introduction ;


The Mesoamerican Aquatic Lifeway ;


Ethnoarchaeology ;


Ethnohistory ;


Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica ;


Archaeological Implications ;


Content and Structure of this Book ;



Chapter II: The Aquatic Lifeway in Michoacán: Natural Resources and Subsistence Activities ;


Ethnohistorical Information on Aquatic Subsistence in Michoacán ;


Ethnographic Analysis and Archaeological Interpretation ;


The Natural Environment of the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin ;


Ethnographic Information on Subsistence Activities in the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin ;


Subsistence Activities in Aquatic Contexts: Archaeological Markers ;


Final remarks ;



Chapter III: Salt Production in Mesoamerica: Tool Assemblages and Cultural Landscapes ;


Nutrition ;


Food Preservation ;


Salt Production in Mesoamerica ;


The Basin of Mexico ;


The Salt-Making Tool Assemblage ;


The Salt-Making Landscape ;


Final Remarks ;



Chapter IV: Aquatic Subsistence in Central Mexico ;


The Basin of Mexico ;


The Alto Lerma Basin ;


Final Remarks ;



Chapter V: Aquatic Subsistence in the Maya Area ;


The Maya Highlands ;


The Maya Lowlands ;


Pre-Hispanic Cities and Agriculture in the Maya Area ;


Maya Cities of the Classic Period ;


Intensive Agriculture among the Ancient Maya ;


Final Remarks ;



Chapter VI: Discussion and Conclusions ;


Challenges for Future Research ;



References