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Eduardo Williams

El Colegio de Michoacán, Centro de Estudios Arqueologicos, Faculty Member

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BA in Archaeology, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (1982). MA in Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, University College London (1984). PhD in Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, University College London (1989). Visiting Scholar, University of California Los Angeles (Fulbright Exchange Program 1988); Tulane University, New Orleans (Fulbright Exchange Program, 1998-99 & Conacyt, 2011-2012).
I have written numerous books and articles focused on subsistence activities, ethnohistory, ethnographic analogy (ethnoarchaeology), the Protohistoric Tarascan state, Modern Purépecha cultural manifestations and materiality (i.e, crafts and artistic styles). My book La sal de la tierra was awarded the Alfonso Caso Prize in 2005. I am a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences since 2002.
Supervisors: Prof. Warwick M. Bray
Phone: (52-351)515-7100
Address: El Colegio de Michoacán
Martinez de Navarrete 505
Zamora, CP 59699
Michoacan, México

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Papers by Eduardo Williams

Pots, Pans, and People

Nature, Materiality, and Worldview in Modern Tarascan Ceramics

This article is about the decorations painted on ceramic vessels in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purép... more This article is about the decorations painted on ceramic vessels in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purépecha community in Michoacán, Mexico. The article includes an ethnographic account about the town of Huáncito and its ceramic tradition, as well as an ethnohistorical discussion of the study area, including the natural environment and the human ecological

INTRODUCCION al libro del Encuentro Sociedades y Entornos Lacustres: Pervivencia y cambios a través del tiempo

Sociedades y Entornos Lacustres: Pervivencia y cambios a través d, 2024

Esta es una versión preliminar a las memorias del encuentro sobre sociedades y entornos lacustres... more

Pots, Pans, and People, 2023

This book presents a systematic discussion of Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic ceramics following a holi... more This book presents a systematic discussion of Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic ceramics following a holistic perspective that includes archaeology, ethnography, and ethnohistory. The author explores the theoretical background for the study of material culture and human adaptations to nature. The book is focused on three main topics: (1) Material culture, e.g., ceramics and many other artifacts and tools used by people to adapt to their environment. Material culture is the main source of information used by archaeologists to infer the economy, technology, social organization, and ritual practices of ancient societies. The analysis of material culture is crucial to archaeological theory and methodology. (2) Cultural ecology, or the patterns of behavior that allow people to adapt to their environment, as well as their knowledge (and use) of specific natural environments and landscapes. Cultural ecology deals with many aspects of culture and the environment, including how humans can solve their subsistence problems, how groups of people understand their environment, and how they share with others their knowledge of the natural settings, resources, and landscapes. (3) The relationship between archaeology and anthropology, and the role of ethnoarchaeology as a possible bridge between these two disciplines. Both ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory are indispensable for the interpretation of ceramics in the archaeological record, as the reader will see in this book.

Pots, Pans, & People-FINAL CHAPTER

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2023

FINAL CHAPTER...This book is about the Mesoamerican tradition of ceramic manufacture, about mater... more FINAL CHAPTER...This book is about the Mesoamerican tradition of ceramic manufacture, about material culture and human interaction with nature, from the earliest times to the present. Here I present a final reflection on the most salient aspects of the present study, including the major ideas, debates, and information from all areas and periods of Mesoamerica. I also refer to other areas of the ancient world, including South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Here we find much food for thought, information that is indispensable for crafting analogies that help us understand the cultural processes of the past.

Tarascan.Ceramics.Chapter.V

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2023

In this chapter I deal with the following topics: (1) The Tarascan Empire in the Protohistoric pe... more In this chapter I deal with the following topics: (1) The Tarascan Empire in the Protohistoric period (ca. AD 1450-1530), including ceramic production, trade, and use in the Tarascan core area (the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin). (2) Ceramic manufacture and use in the modern Tarascan area. (3) The worldview illustrated in the painted pots in the Tarascan community of Huáncito, Michoacán.

CERAMIC ETHNOARCHAEOLOGY IN HUÁNCITO, MICHOACÁN, MEXICO

Ancient Mesoamerica, 2018

This study deals with pottery production in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purepecha community in Michoa... more This study deals with pottery production in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purepecha community in Michoacán, Mexico. The information I have obtained by direct observation during a quarter-century of ethnoarchaeological fieldwork in this town allows me to generate hypotheses to aid in the interpretation of the archaeological record. The main goal of this study is to assist in the interpretation of the material record of ceramic production by means of ethnographic analogy. The observations conducted over a long period of time have given me an invaluable diachronic perspective for understanding many aspects of social change and cultural continuity, including patterns of ceramic manufacture, use, and discard, as well as the use of domestic space and the archaeological visibility of potting activities in the context of the households.

In this chapter I discuss the salient aspects of Aztec culture during the Late Postclassic period... more In this chapter I discuss the salient aspects of Aztec culture during the Late Postclassic period (ca. AD 1200-1521). In order to contextualize the discussion of ceramic manufacture, trade and use in the Aztec Empire presented here, I touch upon the following topics: (1) Aztec history and culture; (2) Residential life in the Basin of Mexico in the Late Postclassic period; (3) Trade, tribute, and transportation of ceramics and many other items of material culture; (4) Subsistence activities such as agriculture and the aquatic lifeway, followed by our main topic of interest: (5) Ceramic production and distribution in the Aztec domain; (6) The last section contains a discussion, amplification and clarification of the main topics addressed in this chapter.

The Mixteca Puebla Tradition

This is a summary discussion of the archaeological and art-historical phenomenon that has been ca... more This is a summary discussion of the archaeological and art-historical phenomenon that has been called ‘Mixteca-Puebla’. This discussion is important, since the tradition in question spread to the farthest confines of the Mesoamerican ecumene, reaching the far northwest, and influencing the art (and life) of many cultures in the process.

THE AZTATLÁN TRADITION OF WEST MEXICO

Pots, Pans, and People (Chapter III), 2023

Between the 9th and 14th centuries, West Mexico experienced a new cultural phenomenon we now call... more Between the 9th and 14th centuries, West Mexico experienced a new cultural phenomenon we now call the Aztatlán tradition. Aztatlán has been an enduring topic of research and debate, and has been addressed by many scholars in West Mexico and other areas of Mesoamerica and beyond. Aztatlán covered an extensive region form the Pacific coastal lowlands to the interior regions of northwest Mexico, reaching as far afield as the Southwestern United States. Cultural interaction during the Early and Middle Postclassic (ca. AD 850-1350) resulted in a cultural network linking many different peoples in this part of the Mesoamerican ecumene.

Pots,Pans,&People-CH.III.(B)

The Mesoamerican Classic period (ca. AD 250/300-900) was first defined as a time of cultural flor... more The Mesoamerican Classic period (ca. AD 250/300-900) was first defined as a time of cultural florescence, primarily in the Maya area. Dates on Maya monuments ranged from about AD 250 to AD 900, so this period was seen by most scholars as a ‘golden age’ with art, society and technology reaching a maturity comparable to that of ancient Greece. For many academics, the Classic period begins at AD 200, or even earlier, and many recognize a Protoclassic, the period immediately preceding the Classic (Evans 2004). The early scholars who designated AD 250-900 as the Classic period ‘marked out an era of flourishing cities and ceremonial centers, ruling over true states and vast territories. Some of Mesoamerica’s most important archaeological sites had their florescence during the Classic period: Teotihuacan, Cholula, El Tajín, Monte Albán, Palenque, Tikal, Copán’ (p. 263), among many others. These centers represent some of the great regional cultures that achieved a high level of complexity during the Classic, which in some cases persisted even into the Postclassic period.

POTS, PANS, AND PEOPLE. Chapter III-C: Early Postclassic Period

Pots, Pans, and People, 2023

After the downfall of Teotihuacan and other states of the Classic period, the political map of th... more After the downfall of Teotihuacan and other states of the Classic period, the political map of the Mesoamerican ecumene changed drastically, and the ‘climax area’ of Mesoamerican civilization moved to a different part of the ecumene. The city of Tula, in the present state of Hidalgo, saw an epoch of florescence during the Early Postclassic period (ca. AD 900-1200). The Toltec state became one of the dominant polities in the Mesoamerican scene; its influence was felt throughout the ecumene, from northwest Mexico to the Yucatán Peninsula.

Pots, Pans, & People CH.III.(A)

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2023

This is a draft version of Chapter III (section 1) of the book: Pots, Pans, and People: Material ... more This is a draft version of Chapter III (section 1) of the book: Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics. In this book I will present a discussion of ceramics in Mesoamerica, covering the development of pottery manufacture, use, and trade in many areas of the Mesoamerican ecumene, from the time of the earliest farmers to the last cultures before the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. The perspective I use is based on a holistic approach that includes archaeological data, ethnohistorical sources and ethnographic analogy. In the first section of this chapter, I discuss the gradual shift from hunter-gatherers of the Archaic period (ca. 8000-2000 BC) to the first farmers of the Formative period (ca. 2000-300 BC). The second section (forthcoming) deals with the Classic period (ca. AD 300-900) and the first complex societies and urbanism. In the next section, the reader will find a discussion of the first expansionist states in the Early Postclassic period (ca. AD 900- 1200). The chapter ends with a synthesis of Aztec culture and the Aztec Empire during the Late Postclassic (ca. AD 1200-1521). As stated above, the main focus of this book is the Mesoamerican ceramic tradition, but I have written extensively about many aspects of material culture in the Mesoamerican ecumene to contextualize the information and give a general cultural-historical background to the data presented here.
ERRATUM: In the bibliograpy, Diehl (1983) should be: Diehl (2004) The Olmecs: America’s First Civilization. Thames and Hudson, London.

Pots, Pans, and People: Chapter II

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2022

On the cover: Tarascan potters in Zipiajo, Michoacan, Mexico (Eduardo Williams 1995). ABSTRACT ... more On the cover: Tarascan potters in Zipiajo, Michoacan, Mexico (Eduardo Williams 1995).
ABSTRACT
In this chapter I explore the theoretical background for the study of material culture and human adaptations to nature. The chapter is divided in three parts: (1) Material culture, or the artifacts, tools, instruments, and all objects used by people to adapt to their environment. Material culture is the main source of information used by archaeologists to infer the economy, technology, social organization, and ritual practices of ancient societies. The analysis of material culture is crucial to archaeological theory and methodology. (2)
Cultural ecology, or the patterns of behavior that allow people to adapt to their environment, as well as their knowledge (and use) of specific natural environments and landscapes. Cultural ecology deals with many aspects of culture and the environment, including how humans can solve their subsistence problems, how groups of people understand their environment, and how they share with others their knowledge of the natural settings, resources, and landscapes. (3) In the last section, I explore the relationship between archaeology and anthropology over time, and the role of ethnoarchaeology as a possible bridge between these two disciplines, as well as an indispensable tool for archaeological interpretation. I also discuss the role of ethnohistory and other disciplines from the social sciences and humanities, which offer crucial perspectives for archaeological interpretation. Both ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory are indispensable for the interpretation of the archaeological record, as the reader will see in this book.

Unpacking Cultural Ecology

This essay deals with cultural ecology, defined as ‘the study of the ways in which people adapt t... more This essay deals with cultural ecology, defined as ‘the study of the ways in which people adapt to their environment by means of behavior, as well as their knowledge of specific natural environments and processes’ (Sutton and Anderson 2004). Cultural ecology deals with numerous aspects of culture and the environment, including how people manage to solve their subsistence problems, how they understand their environment, and how they share with others their knowledge of the natural settings, resources, and landscapes. Cultural ecology seeks an explanation of human adaptation and cultural evolution in both contemporary and ancient societies throughout the world (French and Gonlin 2016).
--
On the cover: figure of a deer painted on a pot in the Tarascan community of Huáncito, Michoacán, Mexico. Many of the designs on Tarascan pots show elements of the natural environment, both flora and fauna.

UNPACKING MATERIAL CULTURE

Unpacking Material Culture, 2022

This review essay, together with the former "Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology" (also in Academia) and t... more This review essay, together with the former "Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology" (also in Academia) and the forthcoming "Unpacking Cultural Ecology" will become part of the book "Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics" (in preparation). .Here I explore a new way of thinking about material objects and their study from an anthropological perspective. The study of material culture has reached a new level of importance in social studies, not just in archaeology. In fact, in recent years a ‘material-culture turn’ has emerged in the social sciences, with archaeology and anthropology as major players in this process. We see in the he recent literature a dissatisfaction with purely ‘culturalist’ studies of material culture, which simply tried to reduce things to meanings, or else to social relations. Here we review these ideas with a critical perspective and analyze concepts such as ‘culture’ from an interdisciplinary and diachronic perspective.

Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology

Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology, 2022

Ethnoarchaeology is discussed here as an indispensable tool for archaeological interpretation. Th... more Ethnoarchaeology is discussed here as an indispensable tool for archaeological interpretation. The link between archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology is analyzed. The conclusion is that ethnoarchaeology is the ideal link between archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology.
+Erratum: Figure 3 Caption: should read "hunting", not "hinting".

Ancient Mesoamerica, 2020

This article deals with the cultural activities linked to subsistence in aquatic environments (fi... more This article deals with the cultural activities linked to subsistence in aquatic environments (fishing, hunting, gathering and manufacture) in Michoacán from ca. AD 1540 to the present. First I present an ethnohistorical account of aquatic landscapes and resources based on the major written sources from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Second, I discuss the extant ethnographic information about subsistence activities in the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin (Michoacán) during the 20th century. In the final section I discuss the archaeological implications of all the information presented here, through an ethnoarchaeological analysis of the subsistence strategies and the material culture associated with the aquatic lifeway in the study area. The main goal of this study is to provide bridging arguments for the reconstruction and interpretation (through analogy) of the archaeological assemblages associated with production and consumption activities in aquatic landscapes within the Tarascan region and elsewhere in Mesoamerica.

CERAMIC PRODUCTION IN HUÁNCITO, MICHOACÁN, MEXICO: AN ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

City, Craft, and Residence in Mesoamerica, 2018

This paper deals with ceramic production in the Tarascan Indian community of Huáncito, Michoacán,... more This paper deals with ceramic production in the Tarascan Indian community of Huáncito, Michoacán, Mexico. The perspectives used in this research include ethnoarchaeology and ceramic ecology. The information we have obtained by means of direct observation during a twenty-year span in this town has allowed us to generate hypotheses for interpretation of the archaeological record.

Adaptaciones acuáticas en Mesoamérica

En este texto presento una síntesis de las conclusiones del libro titulado Aquatic Adaptations in... more En este texto presento una síntesis de las conclusiones del libro titulado Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica: Subsistence Activities in Ethnoarchaeological Perspective, escrito por Eduardo Williams (2022), que actualmente está en prensa en la editorial Archaeopress de Oxford, Reino Unido. El término "adaptaciones acuáticas" se refiere a las estrategias de subsistencia que los antiguos mesoamericanos implementaron para sobrevivir en sus entornos naturales y sociales. Aquí discuto los escenarios naturales y sitios de producción, así como las técnicas, artefactos, paisajes culturales y otras características vinculadas a la subsistencia humana en ambientes acuáticos. En particular, presto atención a las siguientes actividades: pesca, caza, recolección y manufactura, incluida la producción de sal y la agricultura intensiva. En el libro Aquatic Adaptations examino los principales aspectos de la investigación en este campo, que está enfocada principalmente en el modo de vida lacustre mesoamericano, desde una perspectiva de estudio basada en la etnoarqueología y la etnohistoria.

Pots, Pans, and People

Nature, Materiality, and Worldview in Modern Tarascan Ceramics

This article is about the decorations painted on ceramic vessels in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purép... more This article is about the decorations painted on ceramic vessels in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purépecha community in Michoacán, Mexico. The article includes an ethnographic account about the town of Huáncito and its ceramic tradition, as well as an ethnohistorical discussion of the study area, including the natural environment and the human ecological

INTRODUCCION al libro del Encuentro Sociedades y Entornos Lacustres: Pervivencia y cambios a través del tiempo

Sociedades y Entornos Lacustres: Pervivencia y cambios a través d, 2024

Esta es una versión preliminar a las memorias del encuentro sobre sociedades y entornos lacustres... more

Pots, Pans, and People, 2023

This book presents a systematic discussion of Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic ceramics following a holi... more This book presents a systematic discussion of Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic ceramics following a holistic perspective that includes archaeology, ethnography, and ethnohistory. The author explores the theoretical background for the study of material culture and human adaptations to nature. The book is focused on three main topics: (1) Material culture, e.g., ceramics and many other artifacts and tools used by people to adapt to their environment. Material culture is the main source of information used by archaeologists to infer the economy, technology, social organization, and ritual practices of ancient societies. The analysis of material culture is crucial to archaeological theory and methodology. (2) Cultural ecology, or the patterns of behavior that allow people to adapt to their environment, as well as their knowledge (and use) of specific natural environments and landscapes. Cultural ecology deals with many aspects of culture and the environment, including how humans can solve their subsistence problems, how groups of people understand their environment, and how they share with others their knowledge of the natural settings, resources, and landscapes. (3) The relationship between archaeology and anthropology, and the role of ethnoarchaeology as a possible bridge between these two disciplines. Both ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory are indispensable for the interpretation of ceramics in the archaeological record, as the reader will see in this book.

Pots, Pans, & People-FINAL CHAPTER

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2023

FINAL CHAPTER...This book is about the Mesoamerican tradition of ceramic manufacture, about mater... more FINAL CHAPTER...This book is about the Mesoamerican tradition of ceramic manufacture, about material culture and human interaction with nature, from the earliest times to the present. Here I present a final reflection on the most salient aspects of the present study, including the major ideas, debates, and information from all areas and periods of Mesoamerica. I also refer to other areas of the ancient world, including South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Here we find much food for thought, information that is indispensable for crafting analogies that help us understand the cultural processes of the past.

Tarascan.Ceramics.Chapter.V

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2023

In this chapter I deal with the following topics: (1) The Tarascan Empire in the Protohistoric pe... more In this chapter I deal with the following topics: (1) The Tarascan Empire in the Protohistoric period (ca. AD 1450-1530), including ceramic production, trade, and use in the Tarascan core area (the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin). (2) Ceramic manufacture and use in the modern Tarascan area. (3) The worldview illustrated in the painted pots in the Tarascan community of Huáncito, Michoacán.

CERAMIC ETHNOARCHAEOLOGY IN HUÁNCITO, MICHOACÁN, MEXICO

Ancient Mesoamerica, 2018

This study deals with pottery production in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purepecha community in Michoa... more This study deals with pottery production in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purepecha community in Michoacán, Mexico. The information I have obtained by direct observation during a quarter-century of ethnoarchaeological fieldwork in this town allows me to generate hypotheses to aid in the interpretation of the archaeological record. The main goal of this study is to assist in the interpretation of the material record of ceramic production by means of ethnographic analogy. The observations conducted over a long period of time have given me an invaluable diachronic perspective for understanding many aspects of social change and cultural continuity, including patterns of ceramic manufacture, use, and discard, as well as the use of domestic space and the archaeological visibility of potting activities in the context of the households.

In this chapter I discuss the salient aspects of Aztec culture during the Late Postclassic period... more In this chapter I discuss the salient aspects of Aztec culture during the Late Postclassic period (ca. AD 1200-1521). In order to contextualize the discussion of ceramic manufacture, trade and use in the Aztec Empire presented here, I touch upon the following topics: (1) Aztec history and culture; (2) Residential life in the Basin of Mexico in the Late Postclassic period; (3) Trade, tribute, and transportation of ceramics and many other items of material culture; (4) Subsistence activities such as agriculture and the aquatic lifeway, followed by our main topic of interest: (5) Ceramic production and distribution in the Aztec domain; (6) The last section contains a discussion, amplification and clarification of the main topics addressed in this chapter.

The Mixteca Puebla Tradition

This is a summary discussion of the archaeological and art-historical phenomenon that has been ca... more This is a summary discussion of the archaeological and art-historical phenomenon that has been called ‘Mixteca-Puebla’. This discussion is important, since the tradition in question spread to the farthest confines of the Mesoamerican ecumene, reaching the far northwest, and influencing the art (and life) of many cultures in the process.

THE AZTATLÁN TRADITION OF WEST MEXICO

Pots, Pans, and People (Chapter III), 2023

Between the 9th and 14th centuries, West Mexico experienced a new cultural phenomenon we now call... more Between the 9th and 14th centuries, West Mexico experienced a new cultural phenomenon we now call the Aztatlán tradition. Aztatlán has been an enduring topic of research and debate, and has been addressed by many scholars in West Mexico and other areas of Mesoamerica and beyond. Aztatlán covered an extensive region form the Pacific coastal lowlands to the interior regions of northwest Mexico, reaching as far afield as the Southwestern United States. Cultural interaction during the Early and Middle Postclassic (ca. AD 850-1350) resulted in a cultural network linking many different peoples in this part of the Mesoamerican ecumene.

Pots,Pans,&People-CH.III.(B)

The Mesoamerican Classic period (ca. AD 250/300-900) was first defined as a time of cultural flor... more The Mesoamerican Classic period (ca. AD 250/300-900) was first defined as a time of cultural florescence, primarily in the Maya area. Dates on Maya monuments ranged from about AD 250 to AD 900, so this period was seen by most scholars as a ‘golden age’ with art, society and technology reaching a maturity comparable to that of ancient Greece. For many academics, the Classic period begins at AD 200, or even earlier, and many recognize a Protoclassic, the period immediately preceding the Classic (Evans 2004). The early scholars who designated AD 250-900 as the Classic period ‘marked out an era of flourishing cities and ceremonial centers, ruling over true states and vast territories. Some of Mesoamerica’s most important archaeological sites had their florescence during the Classic period: Teotihuacan, Cholula, El Tajín, Monte Albán, Palenque, Tikal, Copán’ (p. 263), among many others. These centers represent some of the great regional cultures that achieved a high level of complexity during the Classic, which in some cases persisted even into the Postclassic period.

POTS, PANS, AND PEOPLE. Chapter III-C: Early Postclassic Period

Pots, Pans, and People, 2023

After the downfall of Teotihuacan and other states of the Classic period, the political map of th... more After the downfall of Teotihuacan and other states of the Classic period, the political map of the Mesoamerican ecumene changed drastically, and the ‘climax area’ of Mesoamerican civilization moved to a different part of the ecumene. The city of Tula, in the present state of Hidalgo, saw an epoch of florescence during the Early Postclassic period (ca. AD 900-1200). The Toltec state became one of the dominant polities in the Mesoamerican scene; its influence was felt throughout the ecumene, from northwest Mexico to the Yucatán Peninsula.

Pots, Pans, & People CH.III.(A)

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2023

This is a draft version of Chapter III (section 1) of the book: Pots, Pans, and People: Material ... more This is a draft version of Chapter III (section 1) of the book: Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics. In this book I will present a discussion of ceramics in Mesoamerica, covering the development of pottery manufacture, use, and trade in many areas of the Mesoamerican ecumene, from the time of the earliest farmers to the last cultures before the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. The perspective I use is based on a holistic approach that includes archaeological data, ethnohistorical sources and ethnographic analogy. In the first section of this chapter, I discuss the gradual shift from hunter-gatherers of the Archaic period (ca. 8000-2000 BC) to the first farmers of the Formative period (ca. 2000-300 BC). The second section (forthcoming) deals with the Classic period (ca. AD 300-900) and the first complex societies and urbanism. In the next section, the reader will find a discussion of the first expansionist states in the Early Postclassic period (ca. AD 900- 1200). The chapter ends with a synthesis of Aztec culture and the Aztec Empire during the Late Postclassic (ca. AD 1200-1521). As stated above, the main focus of this book is the Mesoamerican ceramic tradition, but I have written extensively about many aspects of material culture in the Mesoamerican ecumene to contextualize the information and give a general cultural-historical background to the data presented here.
ERRATUM: In the bibliograpy, Diehl (1983) should be: Diehl (2004) The Olmecs: America’s First Civilization. Thames and Hudson, London.

Pots, Pans, and People: Chapter II

Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics, 2022

On the cover: Tarascan potters in Zipiajo, Michoacan, Mexico (Eduardo Williams 1995). ABSTRACT ... more On the cover: Tarascan potters in Zipiajo, Michoacan, Mexico (Eduardo Williams 1995).
ABSTRACT
In this chapter I explore the theoretical background for the study of material culture and human adaptations to nature. The chapter is divided in three parts: (1) Material culture, or the artifacts, tools, instruments, and all objects used by people to adapt to their environment. Material culture is the main source of information used by archaeologists to infer the economy, technology, social organization, and ritual practices of ancient societies. The analysis of material culture is crucial to archaeological theory and methodology. (2)
Cultural ecology, or the patterns of behavior that allow people to adapt to their environment, as well as their knowledge (and use) of specific natural environments and landscapes. Cultural ecology deals with many aspects of culture and the environment, including how humans can solve their subsistence problems, how groups of people understand their environment, and how they share with others their knowledge of the natural settings, resources, and landscapes. (3) In the last section, I explore the relationship between archaeology and anthropology over time, and the role of ethnoarchaeology as a possible bridge between these two disciplines, as well as an indispensable tool for archaeological interpretation. I also discuss the role of ethnohistory and other disciplines from the social sciences and humanities, which offer crucial perspectives for archaeological interpretation. Both ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory are indispensable for the interpretation of the archaeological record, as the reader will see in this book.

Unpacking Cultural Ecology

This essay deals with cultural ecology, defined as ‘the study of the ways in which people adapt t... more This essay deals with cultural ecology, defined as ‘the study of the ways in which people adapt to their environment by means of behavior, as well as their knowledge of specific natural environments and processes’ (Sutton and Anderson 2004). Cultural ecology deals with numerous aspects of culture and the environment, including how people manage to solve their subsistence problems, how they understand their environment, and how they share with others their knowledge of the natural settings, resources, and landscapes. Cultural ecology seeks an explanation of human adaptation and cultural evolution in both contemporary and ancient societies throughout the world (French and Gonlin 2016).
--
On the cover: figure of a deer painted on a pot in the Tarascan community of Huáncito, Michoacán, Mexico. Many of the designs on Tarascan pots show elements of the natural environment, both flora and fauna.

UNPACKING MATERIAL CULTURE

Unpacking Material Culture, 2022

This review essay, together with the former "Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology" (also in Academia) and t... more This review essay, together with the former "Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology" (also in Academia) and the forthcoming "Unpacking Cultural Ecology" will become part of the book "Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics" (in preparation). .Here I explore a new way of thinking about material objects and their study from an anthropological perspective. The study of material culture has reached a new level of importance in social studies, not just in archaeology. In fact, in recent years a ‘material-culture turn’ has emerged in the social sciences, with archaeology and anthropology as major players in this process. We see in the he recent literature a dissatisfaction with purely ‘culturalist’ studies of material culture, which simply tried to reduce things to meanings, or else to social relations. Here we review these ideas with a critical perspective and analyze concepts such as ‘culture’ from an interdisciplinary and diachronic perspective.

Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology

Unpacking Ethnoarchaeology, 2022

Ethnoarchaeology is discussed here as an indispensable tool for archaeological interpretation. Th... more Ethnoarchaeology is discussed here as an indispensable tool for archaeological interpretation. The link between archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology is analyzed. The conclusion is that ethnoarchaeology is the ideal link between archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology.
+Erratum: Figure 3 Caption: should read "hunting", not "hinting".

Ancient Mesoamerica, 2020

This article deals with the cultural activities linked to subsistence in aquatic environments (fi... more This article deals with the cultural activities linked to subsistence in aquatic environments (fishing, hunting, gathering and manufacture) in Michoacán from ca. AD 1540 to the present. First I present an ethnohistorical account of aquatic landscapes and resources based on the major written sources from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Second, I discuss the extant ethnographic information about subsistence activities in the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin (Michoacán) during the 20th century. In the final section I discuss the archaeological implications of all the information presented here, through an ethnoarchaeological analysis of the subsistence strategies and the material culture associated with the aquatic lifeway in the study area. The main goal of this study is to provide bridging arguments for the reconstruction and interpretation (through analogy) of the archaeological assemblages associated with production and consumption activities in aquatic landscapes within the Tarascan region and elsewhere in Mesoamerica.

CERAMIC PRODUCTION IN HUÁNCITO, MICHOACÁN, MEXICO: AN ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

City, Craft, and Residence in Mesoamerica, 2018

This paper deals with ceramic production in the Tarascan Indian community of Huáncito, Michoacán,... more This paper deals with ceramic production in the Tarascan Indian community of Huáncito, Michoacán, Mexico. The perspectives used in this research include ethnoarchaeology and ceramic ecology. The information we have obtained by means of direct observation during a twenty-year span in this town has allowed us to generate hypotheses for interpretation of the archaeological record.

Adaptaciones acuáticas en Mesoamérica

En este texto presento una síntesis de las conclusiones del libro titulado Aquatic Adaptations in... more En este texto presento una síntesis de las conclusiones del libro titulado Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica: Subsistence Activities in Ethnoarchaeological Perspective, escrito por Eduardo Williams (2022), que actualmente está en prensa en la editorial Archaeopress de Oxford, Reino Unido. El término "adaptaciones acuáticas" se refiere a las estrategias de subsistencia que los antiguos mesoamericanos implementaron para sobrevivir en sus entornos naturales y sociales. Aquí discuto los escenarios naturales y sitios de producción, así como las técnicas, artefactos, paisajes culturales y otras características vinculadas a la subsistencia humana en ambientes acuáticos. En particular, presto atención a las siguientes actividades: pesca, caza, recolección y manufactura, incluida la producción de sal y la agricultura intensiva. En el libro Aquatic Adaptations examino los principales aspectos de la investigación en este campo, que está enfocada principalmente en el modo de vida lacustre mesoamericano, desde una perspectiva de estudio basada en la etnoarqueología y la etnohistoria.

FINAL VERSION. Pots, Pans, and People: Material Culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics

Pots, Pans, and People, 2024

In this book, the author explores material culture and human adaptations to nature over time. Mat... more In this book, the author explores material culture and human adaptations to nature over time. Material culture refers to the artifacts, tools, instruments, and other objects that people use to adapt to their environment —in this case, primarily ceramics. Cultural ecology studies the behaviors that allow people to live and thrive in a particular natural setting, as well as their knowledge (and use) of specific resources and landscapes. Williams also explores the role of ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory as key elements of a broad research strategy that seeks to understand human interaction with nature over time.

Pots, Pans, and People: Material culture and Nature in Mesoamerican Ceramics

This is the Table of Contents and Abstract of the book Pots, Pans, and People, by Eduardo William... more

Pots, Pans, and People...

PPP, 2023

This book presents a systematic discussion of Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic ceramics from the perspec... more This book presents a systematic discussion of Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic ceramics from the perspective of archaeology, ethnography, and ethnohistory. The volume explores the theoretical background for the study of material culture and human adaptations to nature, focusing on three main topics: (1) Material culture, e.g., ceramics and many other artifacts and tools used by people to adapt to their environment. (2) Cultural ecology, or the patterns of behavior that allow people to adapt to their environment, as well as their knowledge (and use) of specific natural environments and landscapes. (3) The relationship between archaeology and anthropology over time, and the role of ethnoarchaeology as a possible bridge between these two disciplines.

Aquatic Adaptations-Ebook

Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica, 2022

The term ‘aquatic adaptations’ refers to the subsistence strategies that ancient Mesoamericans im... more The term ‘aquatic adaptations’ refers to the subsistence strategies that ancient Mesoamericans implemented to survive and thrive in their environments. In this book, I discuss the natural settings, production sites, techniques, artifacts, cultural landscapes, traditional knowledge, and other features linked to human subsistence in aquatic environments. The present study is based on analyses of the following activities: fishing, hunting, gathering, and manufacture (among others), all of which were integral elements of aquatic lifeways. The main aspects of Mesoamerican aquatic adaptations examined here include, in addition to the aquatic lifeways themselves, salt-making, and intensive agriculture developed and practiced in lakes and marshes. The study adopts a perspective based on ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory, complemented by archaeological field data.

Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica: Subsistence Activities in Ethnoarchaeological Perspective

FORTHCOMING, 2022

Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica explores the subsistence strategies that ancient Mesoamericans... more Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica explores the subsistence strategies that ancient Mesoamericans implemented to survive and thrive in their environments. It discusses the natural settings, production sites, techniques, artifacts, cultural landscapes, traditional knowledge, and other features linked to human subsistence in aquatic environments. The study is based on analyses of fi shing, hunting, gathering, and manufacture (among other activities), all of which were integral elements of aquatic lifeways. In addition to the aquatic lifeways themselves, salt-making, and intensive agriculture developed and practiced in lakes and marshes are also examined. The study adopts a perspective based on ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory, complemented by archaeological field data.

IN PRAISE OF AQUATIC ADAPTATIONS IN MESOAMERICA:

"This is a monumental contribution… This pioneering work will stand and endure as a landmark publication, an inspiration for future studies of this sort in Mexico and in other parts of the world..."
Jeffrey R. Parsons,
University of Michigan.

Gente Agua=E-BOOK

La gente del agua: etnoarqueología del modo de vida lacustre en Michoacán, México., 2014

La gente del agua analiza el modo de vida lacustre (pesca, caza, recolección y manufactura) en lo... more

Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene [FullText] (2020)

Archaeopress Precolumbian Archaeology, 2020

This book presents a discussion of the culture history of ancient West Mexico from the time of th... more This book presents a discussion of the culture history of ancient West Mexico from the time of the first human inhabitants until the last cultural developments that took place before the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. The overall narrative is played out within the context of the Mesoamerican ecumene; that is, the universe of cultural and social interactions that coalesced into one of the few pristine civilizations of the ancient world.
The book presents a long-overdue synthesis and update of West Mexican archaeology aimed at scholars, students and the general public. Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene is the first book about West Mexican archaeology written by a single author. Another unique feature of this book is that it follows a holistic approach that includes data and perspectives from sociocultural anthropology, ethnohistory, ethnoarchaeology, and general analogy with many ancient cultures within the Mesoamerican ecumene and beyond (including several of the Old World). The focus of interest is the relationship between West Mexico and the rest of the ecumene, and the role played by the ancient West Mexicans in shaping the culture and history of the Mesoamerican universe.
Ancient West Mexico has often been portrayed as a ‘marginal’ or ‘underdeveloped’ area of Mesoamerica. This book shows that the opposite is true. Indeed, Williams convincingly demonstrates that West Mexico actually played a critical role in the cultural and historical development of the Mesoamerican ecumene.

AQUATIC ADAPTATIONS IN MESOAMERICA (2020)

The term ‘aquatic adaptations’ refers to the subsistence strategies that ancient Mesoamericans im... more The term ‘aquatic adaptations’ refers to the subsistence strategies that ancient Mesoamericans implemented to survive and thrive in their environments. In this book, I discuss the natural settings, production sites, techniques, artifacts, cultural landscapes, traditional knowledge, and other features linked to human subsistence in aquatic environments. The present study is based on analyses of the following activities: fishing, hunting, gathering, and manufacture (among others), all of which were integral elements of aquatic lifeways. The main aspects of Mesoamerican aquatic adaptations examined here include, in addition to the aquatic lifeways themselves, salt-making, and intensive agriculture developed and practiced in lakes and marshes. The study adopts a perspective based on ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory, complemented by archaeological field data.

Tarascan Pottery Production in Michoacán, Mexico (pdf, 2017)

Tarascan Pottery Production in Michoacán, Mexico: An Ethnoarchaeological Perspective, 2017

Electronic version published by Archaeopress, Oxford, England. Also available in print format (ye... more

Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene (2020)

This book presents a discussion of the culture history of ancient West Mexico from the time of th... more This book presents a discussion of the culture history of ancient West Mexico from the time of the first human inhabitants until the last cultural developments that took place before the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. The overall narrative is played out within the context of the Mesoamerican ecumene; that is, the universe of cultural and social interactions that coalesced into one of the few pristine civilizations of the ancient world. The book presents a long-overdue synthesis and update of West Mexican archaeology aimed at scholars, students and the general public. Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene is the first book about West Mexican archaeology written by a single author. Another unique feature of this book is that it follows a holistic approach that includes data and perspectives from sociocultural anthropology, ethnohistory, ethnoarchaeology, and general analogy with many ancient cultures within the Mesoamerican ecumene and beyond (including several of the Old World). The focus of interest is the relationship between West Mexico and the rest of the ecumene, and the role played by the ancient West Mexicans in shaping the culture and history of the Mesoamerican universe. Ancient West Mexico has often been portrayed as a 'marginal' or 'underdeveloped' area of Mesoamerica. This book shows that the opposite is true. Indeed, Williams convincingly demonstrates that West Mexico actually played a critical role in the cultural and historical development of the Mesoamerican ecumene.

Nuevo.Libro.Cerámica.Tarasca.(2020)

Producción de cerámica en la región tarasca de Michoacán (2020), 2020

Este es un estudio de la tradición cerámica contemporánea de los tarascos de Michoacán. Por medio... more Este es un estudio de la tradición cerámica contemporánea de los tarascos de Michoacán. Por medio de la analogía etnográfica y de la etnohistoria, este libro arroja luz sobre la cultura tarasca del periodo Protohistórico (ca. 1450-1530 DC). También constituye un aporte sobre la teoría y la práctica de la etnoarqueología, estrategia indispensable para conocer el pasado social en el contexto mesoamericano. Informes para adquirir un ejemplar: williams2129@gmail.com

Additional-Figures for Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene

These figures were left out of the uploaded version of the book Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoam... more

Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene (2019)

This book (preliminary draft) presents a discussion of the culture history of ancient West Mexico... more

Cultural Dynamics and Production Activities in Ancient Western Mexico (2016)

by Eduardo Williams and Blanca Maldonado

Archaeopress, Oxford (UK)

This book presents a collection of papers from the Symposium on Cultural Dynamics and Production ... more This book presents a collection of papers from the Symposium on Cultural Dynamics and Production Activities in Ancient Western Mexico, held at the Center for Archaeological Research of the Colegio de Michoacán on September 18-19, 2014. While these thought-provoking essays on key topics in Western Mexican archaeology will spark debate among scholars interested in this cultural area, they will also be of interest to students of ancient Mesoamerica as a whole. The time is ripe for insightful discussions and new syntheses of archaeological research in Western Mesoamerica, and this volume represents, undoubtedly, a valuable contribution to this urgent task.
The papers are grouped into three thematic areas. The first, Cultural dynamics in Western Mexico, includes essays on: The challenges of archaeology in flood-prone areas; Exploitation of local resources and imported products; Settlement systems of the Tarascan state; and Stone tools as indicators of task specialization. The second section, Production of strategic resources, analyzes the following topics: The obsidian jewelry of the Teuchitlán Tradition; Differing obsidian economies in Teuchitlán culture; Source areas and obsidian exploitation in Michoacán; The history of pottery production in Capula, Michoacán; Ethnoarchaeology of Tarascan pottery: domestic production and decoration styles; Ceramics, social status, and the Tarascan state economy; and Copper as a strategic resource in pre-Hispanic Western Mexico; while part three focuses on Trade and exchange: Circulation of goods and communication routes between Western and Central Mexico; Contrasting models of ceramic production in the Tarascan state; and Ceramic evidence of contact between Teotihuacan, the Bajío, and southern Hidalgo.

Mesoamerica: Debates y perspectivas (2011)

by Eduardo Williams and Manuel Gandara

En esta colección de trabajos se examinan diversos aspectos de las culturas mesoamericanas, desde... more En esta colección de trabajos se examinan diversos aspectos de las culturas mesoamericanas, desde la historia de investigaciones en la región, hasta la adaptación del ser humano a diversos nichos ecológicos y la creación de paisajes culturales.
Editores: Eduardo Williams, Magdalena García, Manuel Gándara, Phil Weigand

Etnoarqueología: el contexto dinámico de la cultura material (2005)

ETNOARQUEOLOGIA: EL CONTEXTO DINÁMICO DE LA CULTURA MATERIAL (2005). Este libro analiza la relaci... more ETNOARQUEOLOGIA: EL CONTEXTO DINÁMICO DE LA CULTURA MATERIAL (2005).
Este libro analiza la relación entre la antropología sociocultural y la arqueología. Desde la perspectiva de diversos estudios realizados en Mesoamérica y Sudamérica, los autores discuten varios aspectos de la producción y uso de cerámica, de metalurgia y de otros recursos. Se discuten los patrones de subsistencia en contextos lacustres, al igual que la teoría y praxis de la etnoarqueología.

Bienes-Estratégicos

Bienes estratégicos en el antiguo occidente de México: producción e intercambio (2004)

Este libro recoge estudios presentados en el simposio sobre "Recursos estratégicos en el Occident... more Este libro recoge estudios presentados en el simposio sobre "Recursos estratégicos en el Occidente de México antiguo". Las regiones incluidas son: Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit. Estos bienes incluyen objetos de metal, de concha trabajada, así como obsidiana, sal, plumas preciosas, y otros muchos elementos de importancia para los grupos sociales mesoamericanos. Los contextos analizados corresponden a datos arqueológicos, también están presentes la etnohistoria, la etnoarqueología y otras perspectivas analíticas.

Estudios-Cerámicos-Completo.pdf

Estudios cerámicos en el occidente y norte de México (2001)

Esta es una colección de estudios sobre la producción y uso de objetos de cerámica en contextos a... more Esta es una colección de estudios sobre la producción y uso de objetos de cerámica en contextos arqueológicos, etnográficos y también desde la perspectiva de la etnohistoria. Las áreas de estudio corresponden al Occidente de México, a las regiones norteñas de Mesoamérica y el Suroeste del actual territorio estadounidense.

ETNOARQUEOLOGÍA DE LA PRODUCCIÓN DE CERÁMICA EN LA REGIÓN TARASCA (2017)

La alfarería es una de las invenciones más importantes de la humanidad. Tiene miles de años de an... more La alfarería es una de las invenciones más importantes de la humanidad. Tiene miles de años de antigüedad, y puede decirse que sin ella el desarrollo de la civilización como la conocemos hubiera sido imposible. La preparación y almacenamiento de los alimentos, la religión y el ritual, la elaboración de vino, el comercio, el arte y la arquitectura, entre muchos más logros de la humanidad, fueron ayudados por la cerámica, un material artificial que se prestaba para la elaboración de un sinfín de objetos: vasijas, figurillas, tejas, tubos para agua, pesas para redes de pescar, tabletas inscritas con los primeros ejemplos de escritura, entre muchos otros, en una interminable letanía de creatividad humana. En tiempos recientes las cerámicas de alta tecnología se utilizan en cientos de aplicaciones, indispensables para la comunicación, las computadoras, la medicina, el arte y mucho más de lo que podríamos citar aquí.
Este libro es acerca de una tradición cerámica contemporánea en Mesoamérica, pero también mira hacia atrás para observar los primeros pasos del desarrollo cultural en esta área. Por medio de la analogía etnográfica, este estudio intenta arrojar luz en una comunidad indígena contemporánea y también sobre la teoría, el método y la práctica de la etnoarqueología, sin duda uno de los aspectos más relevantes de la investigación arqueológica en el México de hoy.

LA SAL DE LA TIERRA (SEGUNDA EDICION, 2016)

La sal común, o cloruro de sodio, ha sido un elemento indispensable para la vida desde los tiempo... more La sal común, o cloruro de sodio, ha sido un elemento indispensable para la vida desde los tiempos más remotos hasta la actualidad. Su importancia para la humanidad fue expresada por Casiodoro, historiador romano del siglo VI, con las siguientes palabras: “alguien puede no querer oro, pero nunca habrá quien no quiera sal”. Desde la perspectiva de la etnoarqueología y la etnohistoria en este libro se analiza la producción salinera contemporánea en la cuenca del lago de Cuitzeo y en la costa michoacana, para identificar la cultura material relacionada con esta industria tradicional y las huellas que estas actividades dejan sobre el paisaje a lo largo de los siglos. También analizamos el papel de la sal como recurso estratégico en el imperio tarasco durante el periodo Protohistórico (ca. 1450-1530 d.C.).

Joseph B. Mountjoy: sus aportaciones a la formación de estudiantes

Ponencia presentada en el homenaje al Dr. Joseph Mountjoy. Guadalajara, “El Dr. Joseph Mountjoy ... more Ponencia presentada en el homenaje al Dr. Joseph Mountjoy. Guadalajara,
“El Dr. Joseph Mountjoy como formador de estudiantes: sus trabajos en San Blas y el Formativo Temprano”. Simposio en homenaje al Dr. Joseph Mountjoy. Centro Universitario de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad de Guadalajara (29/11/2023).

AGUA Y SOCIEDAD EN LA REGIÓN LACUSTRE MICHOACANA: CAMBIOS Y PERMANENCIAS A TRAVÉS DEL TIEMPO

La palabra Michoacán significa “lugar de peces”; tal fue el nombre que le asignaron los aztecas a... more La palabra Michoacán significa “lugar de peces”; tal fue el nombre que le asignaron los aztecas a esta parte de su ecúmene o mundo conocido. Sin embargo, actualmente los lagos y otros cuerpos de agua de Michoacán han perdido gran parte de su volumen total de agua. Los procesos de cambio en los últimos siglos han sido extremos, tanto así que hoy día vemos condiciones ambientales adversas en los lagos michoacanos, en parte provocadas por los seres humanos. Podemos mencionar la deforestación, la contaminación del agua, la desviación de los ríos tributarios, y la proliferación de urbanizaciones y desarrollos industriales dentro de las cuencas o cerca de ellas, como las causas del deterioro ecológico.

EL MODO DE VIDA LACUSTRE EN EL DE LAGO PÁTZCUARO, MICHOACÁN

Seminario Cultura y Naturaleza en el Lago de Pátzcuaro. Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, UNAM, México. 27/01/2023., 2023

Este capítulo es acerca del modo de vida lacustre en el Lago de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. En muchas r... more Este capítulo es acerca del modo de vida lacustre en el Lago de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. En muchas regiones de Mesoamérica, desde el pasado remoto hasta el presente, los grupos originarios han seguido una estrategia de adaptación al medio ambiente acuático que incluye diferentes actividades, principalmente la pesca, la caza, la recolección y la manufactura (Parsons 2006; Sugiura et al. 1998; Williams 2014). La perspectiva de análisis de la presente investigación es la etnoarqueología asistida por la etnohistoria. El término etnoarqueología se refiere a investigaciones etnográficas realizadas por arqueólogos para obtener información que ayude a ligar la cultura material contemporánea con “teorías de alcance medio” (Merton 1948 [2007]) para interpretar el registro arqueológico por medio de la analogía (Williams 2005). La etnohistoria es una disciplina antropológica que estudia las culturas no europeas, especialmente los grupos indígenas, durante la época prehispánica y el momento posterior a la conquista española en el siglo XVI. La etnohistoria utiliza principalmente fuentes escritas, aunque también permite el uso de fuentes auxiliares de información, como tradiciones orales, datos arqueológicos, y evidencia lingüística.

Conf Magist Academia

Producción e intercambio de bienes estratégicos en Michoacán. Conferencia Magistral. Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, UNAM. 28 de junio de 2022., 11:00 am., 2022

Los bienes estratégicos son los recursos más básicos e imponderables disponibles para las entidad... more Los bienes estratégicos son los recursos más básicos e imponderables disponibles para las entidades socioculturales (Weigand 1982; Williams y Weigand 1994). En Mesoamérica prehispánica existían muchos tipos de recursos o bienes estratégicos: los básicos o importantes eran aquellos elementos necesarios para la explotación primaria del medio ambiente, como la obsidiana, la cerámica utilitaria y el cobre. Los bienes de lujo, por otra parte, eran los artículos culturalmente identificados como marcadores de estatus: jade, turquesa, oro, plata, plumas, cerámica suntuaria, etc. En Mesoamérica prehispánica los recursos estratégicos incluían, entre muchos otros: obsidiana, sal, metales (oro, plata, cobre y estaño, etcétera), cerámica, pedernal, caolín, agua y tierra fértil.

ETNOARQUEOLOGÍA Cerámica en Michoacán

Seminario del Proyecto Etnografía de la Cerámica de la Huaxteca y el Totonacapan. Coordinación Nacional de Antropología, Centro INAH Veracruz, 2022

Presentación sobre la etnoarqueología de producción cerámica en Michoacán

El modo de vida lacustre en Michoacan: Perspectiva etnoarqueologica

Esta es una ponencia presentada een el Homenaje al Dr. Jeffrey Parsons, organizado por el Institu... more

CAMBIOS ANTRÓPICOS DEL PAISAJE EN LOS LAGOS MICHOACANOS: LOS ÚLTIMOS 500 AÑOS

Mesa Trab Academia 2017

SIMPOSIO SOBRE DINÁMICAS CULTURALES Y ACTIVIDADES DE PRODUCCIÓN EN EL OCCIDENTE DE MÉXICO (18-19 sept. 2014)

La gran diversidad ecológica y geográfica de Mesoamérica hizo indispensable el comercio e interca... more La gran diversidad ecológica y geográfica de Mesoamérica hizo indispensable el comercio e intercambio entre regiones desde tiempos muy remotos, ya que en casi ninguna área se producían todos los elementos indispensables para la subsistencia. Destacan principalmente las diferencias ecológicas entre las frías tierras altas y las cálidas tierras bajas y costas. El comercio y la imposición de tributos a través de la guerra sirvieron desde tiempos muy tempranos en Mesoamérica como mecanismos para el intercambio de gente, de información y de bienes entre una región y otra, en condiciones de fronteras dinámicas y mal definidas entre los distintos sistemas sociales. Fueron tres los más importantes mecanismos para el intercambio de recursos escasos y estratégicos: el mercado, el comercio a larga distancia y el sistema tributario. El Occidente fue parte integral de Mesoamérica, por lo que el estudio de la producción e intercambio de bienes escasos y de recursos estratégicos en esta región debe hacerse dentro del contexto cultural e histórico del área mesoamericana (cfr. Williams y Weigand 2011).
El objetivo de este simposio es poner al día a los asistentes al evento sobre las últimas investigaciones en el Occidente y sus resultados, así como llegar a una nueva síntesis (que se publicará en un libro editado por los organizadores). Para ello convocamos a los principales investigadores que trabajan sobre los siguientes temas: producción e intercambio de bienes estratégicos (metalurgia, cerámica, obsidiana, sal, turquesa, etcétera); rutas de comunicación en las épocas prehispánica y colonial; agricultura y modos de vida; transformaciones al medio ambiente y patrones de asentamiento, entre otros.

Reseña del libro The Boundaries of Ancient Trade

The Boundaries of Ancient Trade, 2023

Reseña del libro The Boundaries of Ancient Trade, de H. Woldekiros (2023). Examina el papel de la... more

Review of the book The Boundaries of Ancient Trade: Kings, Commoners, and the Aksumite Salt Trade of Ethiopia, by Helina S. Woldekiros (2023).

The Boundaries of Ancient Trade, 2023

Salty book review written by Eduardo Williams (2024).

Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica Subsistence Activities in Ethnoarchaeological Perspective

Ethnoarchaeology Journal, 2023

Review of Eduardo Williams' book Aquatic Adaptations in Mesoamerica

Water Folk: Reconstructing an ancient aquatic lifeway in Michoacán, western Mexico

N/A, 2022

Reply to a review of the book WaterFolk

New Book Chronicle

Antiquity, 2021

Having devoted August's NBC to North American archaeology, it seems a useful comparison to shift ... more Having devoted August's NBC to North American archaeology, it seems a useful comparison to shift our gaze south to the world of Central America. Hence, this NBC reviews a selection of volumes that consider aspects of Mesoamerican archaeology, including settlement, subsistence, resilience and conflict, as well as the modern trafficking of pre-Columbian antiquities.

Jeffrey R. Parsons and Mesoamerican Ethnoarchaeology

Ethnoarchaeology Journal, 2021

Jeffrey Parsons was a pioneer who expanded the scope of settlement pattern analysis in archaeolog... more Jeffrey Parsons was a pioneer who expanded the scope of settlement pattern analysis in archaeology. He conducted extensive surveys in Mexico, Peru, and Argentina. Here I discuss Parsons' contributions to ethnographic research with archaeological goals (ethnoarchaeology). His major contributions to the field dealt with Mesoamerican subsistence activities in three broad areas: maguey (Agave sp.) cultivation in the Mexican Highlands; salt-making in aquatic environments (primarily the Basin of Mexico), and the aquatic lifeway (fishing, hunting, gathering, and manufacture). Parsons will be remembered as a scholar who pushed the boundaries of archaeological research, and in so doing greatly expanded our knowledge of Mesoamerican foodways, technology, and cultural adaptations to the environment.

Book Review of Eduardo Williams' Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene

Latin American Antiquity, 2021

Review of Eduardo Williams' book "Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican ecumene" by Christopher... more

Mesoamerican Ecumene review

Ethnoarchaeology, 2021

Review of the book ANCIENT WEST MEXICO IN THE MESOAMERICAN ECUMENE, BY EDUARDO WILLIAMS. Reviewer... more

Review of: Ancient West Mexico in the Mesoamerican Ecumene

The Guadalajara Reporter, 2020

Tarascan Pottery-Review

Ethnoarchaeology, 2020

Review of the book Tarascan Pottery Production in Michoacán, Mexico by Eduardo Williams. Reviewed... more

Maya Salt rules OK

Review of the book Maya Salt Works by Heather McKillop. Spoiler alert: this is a great book!

City, Craft and Residence in Mesoamerica

by Eduardo Williams, Gary Feinman, and Ronald "Sonny" Faulseit

See above, 2019

Review of the book: City, Craft and Residence in Mesoamerica, Honoring Dan M. Healan. Edited by R... more

Review of Tarascan Pottery Production, by Lorraine Williams-Beck

Latin American Antiquity, 2019

Two recent tomes pursue combined sociocultural anthropology and ethnographic field methods, to ex... more

Reseña del libro: Arnauld, Charlotte (et al.) Arqueologia de Las Lomas en la cuenca Lacustre de Zacapu, Michoacán México (1993)

Reseña de: Arnauld, Charlotte, et al. 1993 Arqueología de Las Lomas en la cuenca lacustre de Zaca... more

Review of: Eduardo Williams's The Salt Of The Earth

Book Review of La gente del agua, by Christopher Stawski (2015)

ReviewOfColmichArchaeologyBooks by Shirley Gorenstein (1996)

Book review of Las piedras sagradas by Louise Paradis (1993)

Chris Beekman's Review of Williams & Weigand (1999)

Review of Williams' Bienes estrategicos, by Michael Love (2006)

Avances de investigación (2024)

Pots, Pans, and People, 2024

Aquí analizo la cultura material y la interacción humana con la naturaleza, desde los tiempos más... more Aquí analizo la cultura material y la interacción humana con la naturaleza, desde los tiempos más remotos hasta el presente. Presento una reflexión sobre algunos de los aspectos más destacados de mi libro Pots, Pans, and People (Williams 2024), incluyendo las principales ideas, debates y perspectivas en diversas áreas y períodos de Mesoamérica. En esta ocasión me baso en el Capítulo VI, en donde presento las conclusiones generales de mi libro.

CULTURA MATERIAL Y NATURALEZA EN LA PRODUCCIÓN DE CERÁMICA: PERSPECTIVA ETNOARQUEOLÓGICA

Avances, 2023

Algunas fuentes utilizadas en la preparación de mis avances de investigación para este año (2023)

ETNOARQUEOLOGÍA CERÁMICA: CULTURA MATERIAL Y NATURALEZA

Pots, Pans, and People, 2023

En esta ocasión presento varios ejemplos que ilustran cómo la ecología cerámica y la etnoarqueolo... more En esta ocasión presento varios ejemplos que ilustran cómo la ecología cerámica y la etnoarqueología pueden brindarnos una perspectiva sobre la interacción entre cultura y naturaleza en todo el mundo y durante largos períodos. Presento esta información para subrayar el enfoque procesual seguido a lo largo de mi libro Pans, Pots, and People (Williams 2023).

CULTURA MATERIAL Y NATURALEZA EN LA CERÁMICA DE MESOAMÉRICA

Avances del proyecto "Cultura material y naturaleza en la cerámica de Mesoamérica", 2022

En este trabajo exploro los antecedentes teóricos para el estudio de la cultura material y las ad... more En este trabajo exploro los antecedentes teóricos para el estudio de la cultura material y las adaptaciones humanas a la naturaleza. El texto se divide en tres partes: (1) Cultura material, quiere decir los artefactos, herramientas, instrumentos y todos los objetos utilizados por las personas para adaptarse a su entorno. La cultura material es la principal fuente de información utilizada por los arqueólogos para inferir la economía, la tecnología, la organización social y las prácticas rituales de las sociedades antiguas, por eso el análisis de la cultura material es crucial para la teoría y la metodología arqueológicas. (2) La ecología cultural se refiere a los patrones de comportamiento que permiten a las personas adaptarse a su entorno, así como su conocimiento (y uso) de espacios y paisajes naturales específicos. La ecología cultural se ocupa de muchos aspectos del comportamiento humano y el medio ambiente, incluyendo la forma en que la gente resuelve sus problemas de subsistencia, cómo los grupos de personas entienden su entorno y cómo comparten con otros individuos su conocimiento de los contextos, recursos y paisajes naturales. (3) En la última sección, exploro la relación entre la arqueología y la antropología a lo largo del tiempo, y el papel de la etnoarqueología como un posible puente entre estas dos disciplinas, así como una herramienta indispensable para la interpretación arqueológica. También analizo el papel de la etnohistoria y otras disciplinas de las ciencias sociales y las humanidades, que ofrecen perspectivas cruciales para la interpretación arqueológica. Tanto la etnoarqueología como la etnohistoria son indispensables para la interpretación del registro arqueológico.

Avances Prog Final

Programa Avances, 2022

Centro de Estudios Arqueológicos Avances de Investigación del núcleo académico básico y d e inves... more

Bienes estratégicos de Michoacán, 2022

Información adicional, Figura 13.

CULTURA MATERIAL, NATURALEZA Y COSMOVISIÓN

Presentación de avances de investigación. Eduardo Williams, 2021. Centro de Estudios Arqueológico... more

Adaptaciones acuáticas en Mesoamérica: Assemblages y paisajes culturales (Avances-2020)

N/A

Avances del proyecto sobre etnoarqueología del modo de vida lacustre en Michoacán

LA EXPANSIÓN DE LA TRADICIÓN AZTATLÁN (2019)

Expansión Tradición Aztatlán en el noroeste de Mesoamérica, 2019

Avances del proyecto "La pesca, la caza y la recolección: etnoarqueología en el Lago Cuitzeo, Mic... more

Tarascan Pottery Ethnoarchaeology (Avances=16.ppt)

Summary of the book TARASCAN POTTERY PRODUCTION IN MICHOACAN, MEXICO: AN ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL PERS... more

GDL Reporter 2016

by Eduardo Williams and John Pint

Newspaper article about Eduardo Williams' fieldwork in Michoacán

GDL-Reporter-2017.pdf

by Eduardo Williams and John Pint

Book review of Eduardo Williams' "La gente del agua"

ANCIENT WEST MEXICO: CHIEFDOM OR STATE? A VIEW THROUGH ART (2018)

From Formative (ca. 1000 BC-AD 300) to Classic (ca. AD 300-900) times most societies in West Mexi... more From Formative (ca. 1000 BC-AD 300) to Classic (ca. AD 300-900) times most societies in West Mexico were characterized by a pre-state level of sociopolitical complexity. These societies lived in large villages or towns, rarely if ever with any signs of urbanization. The art of these peoples consisted of ceramic figurines often deposited as tomb offerings in the context of an "ancestor cult". The scale of these figures is usually small and there is no evidence that a canon was followed according to the will of an overriding state power. Likewise, there is no evidence of a central deity or a "state religion" centered around the cult of a paramount character (king or ruler). In the Postclassic period (ca. AD 1000-1521), however, we have a totally different situation: the Tarascan Empire held sway over a large territory, and its “official art style” proclaimed the power of the state and of the mighty priests and the ruling elite.

RELIGIÓN Y PODER EN MESOAMÉRICA (2010)

CERAMIC MANUFACTURE IN HUÁNCITO, MICHOACÁN, WESTERN MEXICO An Ethnoarchaeological Perspective (2017)

This study deals with pottery production in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purépecha community in Michoa... more This study deals with pottery production in Huáncito, a Tarascan or Purépecha community in Michoacán, Mexico. The information I have obtained by direct observation during a quarter-century of ethnoarchaeological fieldwork in this town allows me to generate hypotheses to aid in the interpretation of the archaeological record. The main goal of this study is to assist us in the interpretation of the material record of ceramic production by means of ethnographic analogy. The observations conducted over a long period of time have given me an invaluable diachronic perspective for understanding many aspects of social change and cultural continuity, including patterns of ceramic manufacture, use and discard, as well as the use of domestic space and the archaeological visibility of potting activities in the context of the households.

LA CERÁMICA TARASCA COMO RECURSO ESTRATÉGICO: PERIODO PROTOHISTÓRICO (2017)

Etnoarqueología en el Occidente de México (1990-2016)

Cultural Dynamics and Production Activities in Ancient Western Mexico (2016)

This book is based on the Symposium on Cultural Dynamics and Production Activities in Ancient Wes... more This book is based on the Symposium on Cultural Dynamics and Production Activities in Ancient Western Mexico, organized at the Center for Archaeological Research of the Colegio de Michoacán on 18-19 September 2014. The papers in the symposium were grouped into three general topics: cultural dynamics; the production of strategic resources; and trade and exchange. The volume includes a brief introduction by E. Williams to these themes, based on recent archaeological and ethnohistorical literature on Mesoamerica.

Conferencia magistral del Dr. Eduardo Williams en el Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas ... more

NA, 2022

Convocatoria para la SESIÓN INFORMATIVA sobre la Maestría en Arqueología de El Colegio de Michoacán

Encuentro Lacustre Prog Mod 2

ENCUENTRO ACADÉMICO SOBRE EL MODO DE VIDA LACUSTRE, UNAM-COLMICH

Encuentro académico sobre el modo de vida lacustre mesoamericano. Unam/Colmich. Mayo 4-6, 2021. S... more

Encuentro Académico sobre el Modo de Vida Lacustre

Para todos los interesados: el encuentro inicia el martes 23 de febrero a las 10:00 am. Para más ... more

Programa del curso de Etnoarqueología (2023)

Programa del Curso Etnoarqueología (enero-marzo de 2023)

Responsable: Dr. Eduardo Williams Duración: un trimestre (enero-marzo del 2023). El curso consta ... more

AQUATIC SUBSISTENCE IN THE BASIN OF MEXICO Ethnography and Ethnohistory

Lectura para la sesión 5 del curso Etnoarqueología (12/2/2021).

Introducción al curso de Etnoarqueología. enero de 2021. Dr. Eduardo Williams Centro de Estudios ... more

DEBATES Y PERSPECTIVAS EN TORNO A LA ECÚMENE MESOAMERICANA