Mesoamerican Earthen Architecture. Volume I

Abstract

Mesoamerican Earthen Architecture, Volume I, was edited by Annick Daneels, and published in September
2019 by the Institute of Anthropological Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. It is the first
book to specifically approach this archaeological heritage in Mexico. The introduction synthesizes the state of
the art in earthen architecture research in the world and in Mexico, while seven of the twelve chapters present
the architecture of specific sites: San José Mogote, Cholula, La Joya, El Tajín, Xochitécatl-Cacaxtla and Tula, in
Mexico, and Kaminaljuyú in Guatemala, and two more summarize the regional evidence from the Huasteca and
from the Pacific coast of Guatemala. The remaining three chapters are more reflexive: one porposes that the
classic Mesoamerican stone architecture emerged from prototypes in earth; another compares construction
techniques between sites form the New and the Old World; and a third analyzes the challenges that the
conservation of earthen archaeological heritage implies, focusing on the American continent.