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Astronomy, Architecture, and Landscape in the Olmec Area and Western Maya Lowlands: Implications for Understanding Regional Variability and Evolution of Orientation Patterns in Mesoamerica
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2024
Abstract
In the area along the southern Gulf Coast in Mexico, a large number of previously unrecorded archaeological sites have recently been detected with the aid of lidar data, which also allowed us to determine the orientations of hundreds of structures and architectural assemblages, including many standardized complexes dated to the Early-to-Middle Formative transition. As revealed by our analyses, most orientations were based on astronomical and calendrical principles, occasionally combined with certain concepts of sacred geography. While the results of these analyses were presented in a recently published article, here we explore the potential of alignment data for addressing other questions of archaeological relevance. The distribution of particular building types and regional variations in alignment patterns in the study area suggest the existence of two somehow different cultural spheres, loosely corresponding to the areas conventionally called the Gulf Olmec region and the western Maya Lowlands. Examining pertinent evidence, we argue that it was in this area where some of the most prominent orientation groups materialized in later Mesoamerican architecture originated. We also attempt to reconstruct the paths of their diffusion, which are expected to contribute to understanding the dynamics of long-distance cultural interaction in Mesoamerica.
Resumen
Investigaciones recientes basadas en los datos de escaneo láser (lídar) detectaron una gran cantidad de sitios arqueológicos previamente no reportados en el área a lo largo de la costa sur del Golfo de México. Los datos lídar también nos permitieron determinar las orientaciones de un gran número de estructuras y grupos arquitectónicos, incluyendo muchos complejos estandarizados datados a la transición entre los periodos Preclásico Temprano y Medio. Nuestros análisis han revelado que las orientaciones fueron diseñadas, en su mayoría, a partir de principios astronómicos y calendáricos ocasionalmente combinados con algunos conceptos de geografía sagrada. Mientras que los resultados de estos análisis han sido presentados en un artículo publicado recientemente, aquí exploramos el potencial de los datos sobre los alineamientos para abordar otras cuestiones de relevancia arqueológica. La distribución de los edificios de ciertos tipos y las variaciones regionales en los patrones de orientación en el área de estudio sugieren la existencia de dos esferas culturales algo diferentes, que aproximadamente corresponden a las áreas convencionalmente designadas como la región olmeca del Golfo de México y las tierras bajas mayas occidentales. Examinando las evidencias pertinentes, argumentamos que fue ésta el área donde se originaron algunos de los grupos de orientación más comunes en épocas posteriores. Asimismo, intentamos reconstruir las trayectorias de su propagación, contribuyendo de esta manera a la comprensión de los procesos de interacción cultural a larga distancia en Mesoamérica.
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