12 Transformative Relocation in the U.S. Southwest and Mesoamerica. Issue 1 (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nelson, Ben A.; Chase, Adrian S. Z.; Hegmon, Michelle; Chase, Arlen F.; Scarborough, Vernon L.
• Is Part Of: Archeological papers of the American Anthropological Association. Volume 24:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 182
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Anthropology; Antiquities; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1111/apaa.12036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1551-823X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>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 <italic>transformative relocation</italic>. 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.</p> </abstract>