Encyclopedia of Prehistory, 2001 Volume 5: Middle America

The Encyclopedia of Prehistory represents temporal dimension. Major traditions are an attempt to provide basic information also defined by a somewhat different set of on all archaeologically known cultures, sociocultural characteristics than are eth­ covering the entire globe and the entire nological cultures. Major traditions are prehistory of humankind. It is designed as defined based on common subsistence a tool to assist in doing comparative practices, sociopolitical organization, and research on the peoples of the past. Most material industries, but language, ideology, of the entries are written by the world's and kinship ties play little or no part in foremost experts on the particular areas their definition because they are virtually and time periods. unrecoverable from archaeological con­ The Encyclopedia is organized accord­ texts. In contrast, language, ideology, and ing to major traditions. A major tradition kinship ties are central to defining ethno­ is defined as a group of populations sharing logical cultures. similar subsistence practices, technology, There are three types of entries in the and forms of sociopolitical organization, Encyclopedia: the major tradition entry, which are spatially contiguous over a rela­ the regional subtradition entry, and the tively large area and which endure tempo­ site entry. Each contains different types of rally for a relatively long period. Minimal information, and each is intended to be areal coverage for a major tradition can used in a different way.

Bahia; J. Zeidler. Central Mexico Classic; G. Cowgill. Central Mexico Postlcassic; D. Nichols. Chiriqui; F. Corrales. Classic Maya; R. Sharer. Coahuilan; S. Turpin. Cocle; R. Cooke. Early Caribbean; W. Keegan. Early Chibcha; J. Hoopes. Early Mesoamerican Archaic; R. MacNeish. Early Highland Mesoamerican Preclassic; P. van Rossum. Early Northwest South American Littoral; E. Engwall. Ecuadoran Highlands; T. Myers. Gulf Coast Classic; C. Pool. Highland Mesoamerican Archaic; C. Glew. Huatabampo; S. Berry, L. Doyon. Late Caribbean; J. Weeks. Late Chibcha; J. Hoopes. Late Highland Mesoamerican Preclassic; L. Finsten. Late Northwest South American Littoral; E. Engwall. Lowland Mesoamerican Archaic; H. Iceland, Th. Hester. Manteno; K. Stothert. Nicoya; F. Lange. Olmec; S. Herrera. Paya; P.N. Peregrine. Postclassic Maya; R. Fry. Postclassic Southern Mexican Highlands; G.M. Feinman. Preclassic Maya; P.N. Peregrine. Southern Mexican Highlands Classic; R.E. Blanton. Trincheras; P. Fish. West Mexico Classic; P. Weigand. West Mexico Postclassic; H. Pollard.