Formative Mexican Chiefdoms and the Myth of the “Mother Culture”

Authors: Flannery K.V.; Marcus J.

Source: Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, Volume 19, Number 1, March 2000 , pp. 1-37(37)

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Abstract:

Most scholars agree that the urban states of Classic Mexico developed from Formative chiefdoms which preceded them. They disagree over whether that development (1) took place over the whole area from the Basin of Mexico to Chiapas, or (2) emanated entirely from one unique culture on the Gulf Coast. Recently Diehl and Coe (1996) put forth 11 assertions in defense of the second scenario, which assumes an Olmec “Mother Culture.” This paper disputes those assertions. It suggests that a model for rapid evolution, originally presented by biologist Sewall Wright, provides a better explanation for the explosive development of Formative Mexican society. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1079

Publication date: 2000-03-01