Water and Ritual: The Rise and Fall of Classic Maya Rulers

271 Pages·2006·8.731 MB·English

by  Lucero, Lisa Joyce

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Water and Ritual
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The Linda Schele Series in Maya and Pre-Columbian Studies
This series was made possible through the generosity of William C. Nowlin, Jr.,
and Bettye H. Nowlin, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and
various individual donors.
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Water and Ritual
The Rise and Fall of Classic Maya Rulers
lisa j. lucero
University of Texas Press Austin
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Copyright © 2006 by the University of Texas Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
First edition, 2006
Requests for permission to reproduce material from this work should be sent to:
Permissions
University of Texas Press
P.O. Box 7819
Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexas.edu/utpress/about/bpermission.html
(cid:1)(cid:1)The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements of ansi/niso
z39.48-1992 (r1997) (Permanence of Paper).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lucero, Lisa Joyce.
Water and ritual : the rise and fall of classic Maya rulers / Lisa J. Lucero.— 1st ed.
p. cm. — (The Linda Schele series in Maya and pre-Columbian studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn0-292-70999-4 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Mayas—Politics and government. 2. Mayas—Kings and rulers. 3. Mayas—
Rites and ceremonies. 4. Water rights—Central America. 5. Water rights—
Mexico. 6. Water—Religious aspects. 7. Central America—Economic conditions.
8. Mexico—Economic conditions. I. Title. II. Series.
f1435.3.p7l83 2006
305.897(cid:2)42—dc22
2005028167
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For my parents, Jim and Ida Lucero
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Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction:The Rise and Fall of Classic Maya Rulers 1
1. Water and Ritual 5
2. Classic Maya Political Histories 33
3. Maya Rituals:Past and Present 54
4. Community and the Maya:The Ritual History of Saturday Creek 67
5. Local Rulers and the Maya:The Ritual History of Altar
de Sacrificios 114
6. Regional Rulers and the Maya:The Ritual History of Tikal 145
7. The Rise and Fall of Classic Maya Rulers 175
8. Water,Ritual,and Politics in Ancient Complex Societies 196
Notes 201
References Cited 203
Index 239
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Preface
In 1999 I published a paper (Lucero 1999b) on water systems and Maya ruler-
ship at Tikal and other comparable centers (large centers in areas without per-
manent water sources such as lakes and rivers). This paper, as well as questions
from colleagues and students and a perusal of cross-cultural cases, made me
wonder about the role of water at other centers in the southern Maya lowlands,
particularly those located in areas with rivers and lakes. I realized that the level
of reliance on and scale of reservoirs had a significant impact on the degree of
rulers’ political power. The more I delved into research on water issues and
Maya rulership, however, the more I also realized that water management is
inadequate in and of itself to explain completely the ability of a few to exact
tribute from the majority. One only has to look around each Maya center to no-
tice a missing piece of the puzzle—monumental public architecture and large
plazas. These settings served as competitive arenas to integrate people through
ceremonies and feasts, particularly during the dry season. They also served to
highlight the fact that the average commoner was an active participant and had
some say in the amount of tribute paid as well as to whom. Commoners were
willing to contribute surplus because rulers offset problems that arose as a re-
sult of seasonal vagaries—not enough or too much water.
Annual water shortages in the tropical jungles of the southern Maya low-
lands dramatically affected the livelihood of the Maya like no other natural re-
source shortage. Even in areas where water was plentiful, seasonal water issues
impacted settlement decisions and agricultural practices. By about 1000 bc
Maya had relocated to interior areas away from the major rivers and coastal ar-
eas. Pioneers found plentiful fertile agricultural land but not much permanent
surface water. The first farmers had a definite advantage over succeeding gen-
erations of immigrating families who needed to farm to support themselves.
The first settlers or founders—the earliest elites—did not offer the use of their
land for free. In return for homestead privileges, they demanded, and were