In modern research of the Central Mexican manuscripts, the Codex Laud has always remained in a position of obscurity. Barely a handful of comprehensive studies of this codex have been published...Show moreIn modern research of the Central Mexican manuscripts, the Codex Laud has always remained in a position of obscurity. Barely a handful of comprehensive studies of this codex have been published over the past century. Mostly, the Codex Laud is only mentioned briefly in studies of other divinatory codices, and simply regarded as one of the Borgia Group codices, often serving as material for comparison with the other codices of this group. As such, a closer look at this codex is warranted. In this thesis, a single page of the Codex Laud takes the centre stage: page 23, the second-to-last page of the codex, which features a complex composition of calendrical and various other elements around a single central figure. This page forms the subject for a detailed analysis using the iconographical method of Panofsky in order to gain insight into the various layers of meaning hidden within its imagery. In this manner, this thesis will attempt to do what the ancient Mexican diviners did – to determine the associations and meaning(s) of the page in all its aspects and contexts.Show less
This thesis aims to investigate and analyse the ways in which Ancient Maya sculpture at Yaxchilan may have been perceived in the past. Contemporary Maya worldview has been used comparatively to...Show moreThis thesis aims to investigate and analyse the ways in which Ancient Maya sculpture at Yaxchilan may have been perceived in the past. Contemporary Maya worldview has been used comparatively to understand how different peoples can interpret and understand material culture, such as the stelas of Yaxchilan. The author has used knowledge and information gained through his own time spent in Mesoamerica in 2011, and especially ethnographic data collected on the contemporary Maya by a variety of scholars in the 20th Century to analyse this sculpture in a way that not been attempted before. Additionally, the role and value of ethnographical data is also discussed at some length.Show less
In this thesis the Classic Maya city of Aguateca is reconstructed using Unity3D. This city, which had a very short lifespan, was nevertheless the home to a royal family which came from the nearby...Show moreIn this thesis the Classic Maya city of Aguateca is reconstructed using Unity3D. This city, which had a very short lifespan, was nevertheless the home to a royal family which came from the nearby city of Dos Pilas when the situation for them appeared to have become more hostile. The walls that were later built in Aguateca and are also shown in the 3D model are evidence of the hostility in the area. The main features in the 3D model are the Main Plaza, the Palace Group and the Causeway that connects the two. The Main Plaza is separated from the Causeway and Palace Group by a deep chasm. This model was created to serve as a scene in which kingship ritual was probably performed to bind the populace of the city to the reigning king. This thesis follows the article on ritual performance by Inomata (2006) in regards to this theory. While the ritual itself is not given form in the scene, various preliminary conclusions based on the visibility in the scene indicate a high probability for such rituals to have taken place.Show less
Monte Albán Tomb 7 is one of the more enigmatic burial tombs in the valley of Oaxaca. It is still unsure as to why the deposits are so fragmented and what the grave goods might have meant within...Show moreMonte Albán Tomb 7 is one of the more enigmatic burial tombs in the valley of Oaxaca. It is still unsure as to why the deposits are so fragmented and what the grave goods might have meant within the context of this tomb. Many different theories have been carefully devised to explain the circumstances of Tomb 7 and for the purpose of this thesis, two have been chosen to serve as an explanation. The theories as they were put forward by McCafferty et al. (1994), concerning Tomb 7 in relation to the veneration of the cult goddess Lady 9 Grass as well as the theories devised by Middleton et al. (1998) which explained the tomb through the concept of grave reuse, will be applied here to shed light on the situation of Tomb 7. Both will be examined and then related to the concepts of ancestor veneration. Through comparing the theories together and attempting to find common ground they both share within the spectrum of ancestor veneration, it will be attempted to fuse the theories together to form one whole that might serve to explain the burial context of Monte Albán Tomb 7.Show less
The Feathered Serpent or Quetzalcoatl represents an icon for Mesoamerican civilizations which could have been since Formative times (1200 BC - AD 250). It is visible and already extended throughout...Show moreThe Feathered Serpent or Quetzalcoatl represents an icon for Mesoamerican civilizations which could have been since Formative times (1200 BC - AD 250). It is visible and already extended throughout Mesoamerica at the moment of arrival of the Spaniards to the Mesoamerican territory. Archaeology has shown that during the transition from Epiclassic (AD 800-1000) to Postclassic times (AD 1000 – 1519), many features changed (Smith and Berdan 2000). Major Mesoamerican centers declined and were abandoned and new centers emerged and gained importance. During this transition the image of a feathered serpent suffers strong cultural and social changes (Ringle et al. 1998). It then becomes related to wind, Venus and a culture hero: Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, that ruled in a place called Tollan. In addition to this, a whole new religion developed where priests were ascribed to this cult which is reflected by the construction of pyramids that shows clear representation of feathered serpents like the Coatepantli. To this date, still many questions remain unsolved about this intriguing moment in Mesoamerican archaeology and need to be studied in more detail. This research attempt to interpreted the significance of the feathered serpent in this epoch. The Coatepantli will be taken as an case study.Show less
Through the process of cultural ruination, the ancestral cult of the Inka was supposedly lost in exchange for Christian funerary practices. Though there is an outward façade of acculturation in...Show moreThrough the process of cultural ruination, the ancestral cult of the Inka was supposedly lost in exchange for Christian funerary practices. Though there is an outward façade of acculturation in relation to the treatment of death during the Colonial Era in Cusco, Peru, all was not lost. This particular study suggests that through the introduction of Western artistic media, the colonial Inka were able to maintain aspects of their pre-Hispanic belief system. Specifically, this thesis argues that there are distinct parallels between the way the Inka mummies and the practice dynastic portrait paintings that was adopted during the late 16th century.Show less
This thesis puts the topic of community museums into the light of museology, museum ethics and indigenous human rights. In order to achieve this, the first thing that is looked at is the...Show moreThis thesis puts the topic of community museums into the light of museology, museum ethics and indigenous human rights. In order to achieve this, the first thing that is looked at is the traditional public museum. Then a history and definition of the community museum is given. Museum ethics is discussed after that. Human rights of indigenous peoples are discussed at some length and through this a solid basis for the indigenous claims to their own heritage is established. After this, four case studies of community museums in Mexico are discussed. In the last part practice and theory are combined and the research question, how can community museums in Mexio profit from and contribute to museology, museum ethics and indigenous human rights debates?, are answered. There is also a section on the responsibility of local and foreign scientists and professionals towards indigenous communities and community museums.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
This research involves the Moche full bodied portrait vessels. The Moche flourished from 100 till 800 AD and all that was left of the Moche society was their material culture. Today it is generally...Show moreThis research involves the Moche full bodied portrait vessels. The Moche flourished from 100 till 800 AD and all that was left of the Moche society was their material culture. Today it is generally accepted that ceramic was the Moche language. The main research question focuses on the function and meaning of these artefacts. What was their place in the Moche culture? A study is made of social meaning, social biography and of the different statements an object can give. Objects function as memory, they tell stories and are used to remember certain occasions or activities. Furthermore, instead of using expensive tests here a descriptive approach, in combination with statistical analyses, was used to understand the function of these objects. The form and function of these vessels is connected, but the exact role of the portrait vessels is not known. It is clear that they played an important role in the life of the Moche society and were almost certainly connected with the ceremonial sacrifice. This is assumed based on the characteristics of the people modelled on the vessels. Using statistical analyses will help to understand the relation between depictions and form and will also give ideas about how and wherefore these vessels were used. Based on the different analyses a decision tree learning model was made, creating the possibility to define and understand the different categories of Moche full bodied portrait vessels.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
The majority of studies of the Greater Nicoya area of Pacific Nicaragua and Costa Rica have relied heavily upon the assumption that large-scale Mesoamerican migrations took place sometime in the...Show moreThe majority of studies of the Greater Nicoya area of Pacific Nicaragua and Costa Rica have relied heavily upon the assumption that large-scale Mesoamerican migrations took place sometime in the Postclassic period, resulting in the similarity between some styles of pottery and iconography between the two regions. Recently, studies have shown that there is little archaeological evidence to link the two areas, besides the ethnohistorical data and the appearance of the aforementioned iconography. This study examines one of those icons, the quintessentially Mesoamerican figure of Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, in order to look for evidence that might support either side of the debate.Show less
