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12 Transformative Relocation in the U.S. Southwest and Mesoamerica
Author(s) -
Nelson Ben A.,
Chase Adrian S. Z.,
Hegmon Michelle
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
archeological papers of the american anthropological association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.783
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1551-8248
pISSN - 1551-823X
DOI - 10.1111/apaa.12036
Subject(s) - relocation , transformative learning , mesoamerica , maya , perspective (graphical) , sociology , history , geography , anthropology , ethnology , archaeology , art , visual arts , computer science , pedagogy , programming language
A comparative perspective, drawing from cases in the U.S. Southwest and Northern Mexico, is used to illuminate the iconic Classic Maya “collapse,” and to define the concept of transformative relocation . In some of the cases we discuss—including La Quemada and Classic Mimbres, as well as Maya—the end of a social configuration is not the end of a people. Rather, a broad temporal and regional perspective demonstrates that the dramatic change we see in the archaeological record is best characterized as a transformative relocation in which people relocated themselves and adopted new ways of life. The comparative perspective allows us to identify factors that contribute to this kind of transformation, including a compounding of vulnerabilities and situations of path dependence.