Foreigners Among Us: Alterity and the Making of Ancient Maya Societies

Foreigners Among Us examines the arrival of foreigners in Pre-Columbian Maya societies and questions who these foreigners were and who made such designations of difference. It highlights the diverse ways being foreign was constituted, imitated, and marked, from quotidian practices to ceremonial acts and their memorialization in scenes on sculpted stone monuments. The book focuses on diverse peoples in the Maya area during the Classic and Postclassic periods and peers into contacts, engagements, and relations throughout Mesoamerica, the Americas, and with Europeans during the Colonial period.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Rewritten text:
Foreigners Among Us: Reassessing the Arrival of Foreigners in Ancient Maya Societies

In the realm of archaeological interpretations of Pre-Columbian Maya, the arrival of foreigners has long been a subject of fascination and debate. Who were these foreigners, and how did they contribute to the complex tapestry of identity in ancient Maya societies? These are the key questions that Foreigners Among Us seeks to address.

Drawing from diverse fields such as identity studies, standpoint theory, and ideas on alterity, the book delves into the multifaceted ways in which being foreign was constituted, imitated, and marked. It explores a wide range of practices, from the quotidian tasks of making corn tortillas to ceremonial acts between kings and captives, as well as their memorialization in the intricate scenes carved onto sculpted stone monuments. Rather than viewing the foreign as a fixed and predetermined attribute determined solely by geographical distance or birth, the book proposes that it is as much performed as inherited.

The book examines a diverse array of practices, including captivity, cuisine, body ornamentation and dress, diasporic objects, relationships with deities, migration, and pilgrimage. It focuses particularly on the experiences of diverse peoples in the Maya area during the Classic and Postclassic periods, but also extends its gaze to encompass contacts, engagements, and relations throughout Mesoamerica, the Americas more broadly, and with Europeans during the Colonial period.

Central to the book's approach is the recognition that outsider status must be approached as multi-scalar, relational, and intersectional rather than as neutral, intrinsic, and static. It emphasizes the complex and multifaceted ways in which individuals and groups negotiated their identities and positions within these diverse contexts. By exploring the experiences of foreigners in ancient Maya societies, Foreigners Among Us offers valuable insights into the complexities of identity formation, cultural exchange, and the enduring impact of colonialism.

This book contributes significantly to intellectual investigations on foreign identities from an anthropological perspective. It enriches our understanding of Maya society, providing valuable insights for students and researchers in Mesoamerican archaeology and art history. Through its nuanced and interdisciplinary approach, Foreigners Among Us sheds light on the rich and complex tapestry of human experiences in the ancient world.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032263205