Maya textiles are highly celebrated not only for their bright colors and their diversity, but also for their rich traditions, long history, and how they unite the many different sub-cultures of the Maya people. The textile artisans are traditionally women, and these women have passed on their traditions to their daughters and granddaughters for centuries. The Maya use many … [Read more...] about Contemporary Mesoamerican Textiles: Researched by Kari Mishler
Animalitos, along with the fantasy figures known Alebrijes, are Mexican folk art sculptures produced by the Zapotec culture artisans of the Oaxaca region. While these sculptures originated as folk art that people carved for amusement, in the 1980s the figures became popular in the tourist trade, and the Oaxacan artisans developed many different forms to appeal to visitors … [Read more...] about Zapotec Animalito Sculptures: Researched by Hannah Ferguson
The Mexican polychrome ceramic tradition known as “Talavera pottery” derived its name from the Spanish town of Talavera de la Reina, as the Spanish introduced pottery-making techniques such as the potter’s wheel and high-firing glazes to the Aztec and the Mixtec cultures of the Valley of Mexico in the 15th century. The Mestizo (mixed Native and Spanish heritage) potters who … [Read more...] about Talavera Pottery: Researched by Chaney Jewell and Jasmine Currey
Ancient Native American stone points from the American Midwest and Great Plains are often comparable to stone points in Mesoamerica, as although they were made at different times and the types of stone may differ, similar points were often developed for similar purposes in different parts of the world. Comparison illustrates that the Midwest Cahokia Point and the Great Plains … [Read more...] about Ozarks vs. Mesoamerican Projectile Points: A Comparison: Researched by Matthew Thomas