Dr. Michael E. Smith, Professor and Director, Teotihuacan Research Laboratory, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University
The September 2024 meeting of The Pre-Columbian Society at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will be held virtually, and will have Dr. Michael E. Smith as the speaker. See the webpage of the PSCO for the Zoom link.
Abstract:
“This talk will provide a fresh view of Aztec society, focusing on households and communities instead of kings, pyramids, and human sacrifice. This new approach offers an opportunity to humanize the Aztecs, moving past the popular stereotype of sacrificial maniacs to demonstrate that these were successful and prosperous communities. Dr. Smith describes the scientific, logistic and personal dimensions of archaeological fieldwork, drawing on decades of excavating experience and considering how his research was affected by his interactions with contemporary Mexican communities. He presents a new approach to the topic of the success, prosperity and resilience (or lack thereof) of ancient societies. This talk will be of interest not only to those interested in the Aztecs but also those with an interest in the ways archaeologists define and study resilience in early households and communities.”