20
Ritual Places, Pilgrimage, and Religion in Mesoamerica
Joel W. Palka
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architecture, in this culture area were created, in part, by and for pilgrims for their ceremonies. In
Mesoamerican cultures, pilgrimage to ritual places has been important for communication with spiritualforces. The communication and maintaining of covenants between people and animistic forces have helped
humans explain their world, how they live in it, and how they acquire things they need, such as prosperity,
health, food, and water. Additionally, pilgrimage and the creation of ritual places, such as cave shrines,
temples, and sanctuaries, have been central for the reinforcement of religious beliefs, political structure,
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elites or corporate groups have managed construction and access to shrines and temples. Furthermore,regionally important ritual places attract large numbers of worshipers, with whom trade and economic
advancement often follows. Pilgrimage in Mesoamerica can be compared to similar religious traditions,social structures, shrine constructions, and settlements around the world.
Durante los últimos miles de años, la peregrinación ha sido importante para muchas sociedades
humanas en Mesoamérica. El arte rupestre más antiguo sobre acantilados y cuevas, además de losprimeros sitios con arquitectura monumental, fueron creados en esta zona cultural en parte, por y para
ORVSHUHJULQRVFRQHO¿QGHUHDOL]DUVXVFHUHPRQLDV(QODVFXOWXUDVPHVRDPHULFDQDVODSHUHJULQDFLyQ
a los lugares donde se realizaban los rituales ha sido de suma importancia para la comunicación con lasfuerzas espirituales. La comunicación y el mantenimiento de pactos entre personas y fuerzas animistas han
ayudado a los humanos a explicar su mundo, cómo viven en él y cómo adquieren las cosas que necesitan,
como prosperidad, salud, alimentos y agua. Así mismo, la peregrinación y la creación de lugares rituales,
como ermitas rupestres, templos y santuarios, han sido fundamentales para el fortalecimiento de lascreencias religiosas, la estructura política y el éxito económico en Mesoamérica. Además de cumplir con
la comunicación con las fuerzas animistas, las élites políticas o grupos corporativos han gestionado laconstrucción y el acceso a santuarios y templos. Además, los lugares rituales de importancia regional
DWUDHQDXQJUDQQ~PHURGH¿HOHVFRQTXLHQHVDPHQXGRDWUDHQHOFRPHUFLR\FRQVLJXLHQWHSURJUHVR
económico. La peregrinación en Mesoamérica se puede comparar con tradiciones religiosas, estructurassociales, construcciones de santuarios y asentamientos similares en todo el mundo.

247

248

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reinforcement of religious beliefs, political structure, and

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also can be carried out by non-elites and communities)XUWKHUPRUHUHJLRQDOO\LPSRUWDQWULWXDOSODFHVDWWUDFWODUJH

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Pilgrimage in Mesoamerica can be compared to similar

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economic importance of pilgrimage in Mesoamerica

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Figure 20.1.

WKHUHOLJLRXVHOHPHQWVRISLOJULPDJHLQWKLVFXOWXUDOUHJLRQMap of Mesoamerica and some sites mentioned in the text

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(courtesy of the author).

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including elites, ritual specialists, and ceremonial sponsors,

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Many aspects of Mesoamerican cultures continued into

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Pilgrimage and Ritual Places in Mesoamerica
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Postclassic to early Colonial period pilgrimage and ritual

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Figure 20.2.

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Cave and sink hole (cenote) entrance near a shrine at

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the San Gervasio site, Cozumel, Mexico (courtesy of the

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author).

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LQFOXGLQJDQFHVWRUVWREULQJIRRGZDWHUDQGFRPPXQLW\Figure 20.3.

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Pyramid of the Moon and shrines at the end of the Way of

SHRSOHWKHLUFRPPXQLWLHVDQGWKHDQLPLVWLFIRUFHV+XLFKROthe Dead at Teotihuacan, Mexico (courtesy of the author).

people also make pilgrimages to mountains and sources of
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Mesoamerican Pilgrimage, Animism, and Shrines(WKQRJUDSKLF LQIRUPDWLRQ IURP 0HVRDPHULFDLQGLFDWHV WKDW SLOJULPDJH WR ULWXDO SODFHV KDV EHHQLPSRUWDQW IRU HYHU\GD\ OLIH RYHU WLPH 3LOJULPV YLVLWVLJQL¿FDQWJHRJUDSKLFDOORFDWLRQVVXFKDVFOL൵VFDYHV

Figure 20.4.

springs, mountains, and sanctuaries, to perform rituals to

Plaza and main pyramid with a Catholic church on the

FRPPXQLFDWHZLWKDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVZLWKZKRPWKH\FR

summit at Cholula, Mexico (courtesy of the author).

H[LVW $VWRU$JXLOHUD3DOND 7KHDQLPLVWLF
IRUFHVDUHSUHVHQWLQWKHZRUOGRISHRSOHDQGDOWKRXJKWKH\DUHXQVHHQWKH\D൵HFWWKHOLYHVRIKXPDQV7KH\FDQ
EULQJGLVHDVHJRRGFURSVKHDOWKFRQÀLFWLQDGGLWLRQWRFRPPXQLW\ZHOOEHLQJ+RZHYHUWKH\PXVWEHSODFDWHG
ZLWKR൵HULQJVPXVLFDQGSUD\HUV5HOLJLRXVVSHFLDOLVWVDQGVHOHFWSHRSOHXVXDOO\LPSRUWDQWPHQLQWKHFRPPXQLW\RUJDQL]HDQGVSRQVRUWKHSLOJULPDJHV7KHULWXDOSODFHVDUHYLHZHGDVKRPHVWRGHLWLHVDQGDQFHVWRUVZKRLPSDFWSHRSOH¶VGD\WRGD\OLYHVDQGSURYLGHWKLQJVWKH\QHHG
7KHVHSODFHVDUHW\SLFDOO\ORFDWHGRXWVLGHWKHGRPHVWLF
UHDOPVLQFHWKH\DUHSHUFHLYHGWREHSRWHQWLDOO\GDQJHURXVVLQFHWKH\FRQWDLQVSLULWXDOIRUFHVZKRFDQFDXVHKDUP

PDNHIRUDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVDWWKHVHSODFHVLQFOXGHLQFHQVH$FFRUGLQJWR0HVRDPHULFDQEHOLHIVSHRSOHVHHFOL൵V

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WKHDQLPDWHIRUFHVWKDWLQKDELWWKHPWKDWSHRSOHFDQQRWDQGLQFHQVHEXWWKHGHLWLHVVHHWRUWLOODVDQGRWKHUIRRGVSHUFHLYH %DOVDQHOOL 7KHVHIRUFHVDFWXDOO\YLHZ

0D\DLQWKH<XFDWDQSHQLQVXODWUDYHOWRULWXDOSODFHVWRWKHVHJHRJUDSKLFDOIHDWXUHVDVKRPHVSDODFHVDQGWHPSOHVFRQWDFWDQLPLVWLFIRUFHV,QFDYHVVSULQJVDQGQHDUWUHHVZKLFKDUHOLNHWKRVHRISHRSOH7KHR൵HULQJVSHRSOH

RUURFNVSHRSOHFRPPXQLFDWHZLWKWKHIRUFHVWRDFTXLUH251

WKLQJVWKH\QHHGDQGWRPDLQWDLQWKHFRYHQDQWVIRUZRUOG

SURPRWHFRPPXQLW\VROLGDULW\DPRQJWKH0D\DZRUVKLSHUVEDODQFH,QWKHFDVHRI;RNpQ0D\DSHRSOHSLOJULPDJH

7KHSLOJULPDJHDQGDVVRFLDWHGULWHVDOVRUHLQIRUFH0D\D

WRDYLOODJHZLWKDODUJHVWRQHURXJKO\VKDSHGOLNHDFURVVHWKQLFLGHQWLW\LQPXOWLFXOWXUDO<XFDWDQLQDGGLWLRQWR

IRU FHUHPRQLHV DQG WR SURYLGH RIIHULQJV WR DQLPLVWLF

DFFHQWXDWLQJWKHSRZHUDQGVWDWXVRIUHOLJLRXVVSHFLDOLVWVIRUFHVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHIRUHVWDQGUDLQ $VWRU$JXLOHUDDQGULWXDOVSRQVRUVW\SLFDOO\PHQZLWKKLJKVRFLDODQG

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SODFH0HQZLWKULWXDONQRZOHGJHW\SLFDOO\PDQDJHWKH

/DFDQGRQ0D\DKDYHPDGHPDQ\SLOJULPDJHVWRULWXDOULWHVVKULQHVDQGSLOJULPDJHV7KHFRPPXQLFDWLRQZLWKSODFHVLQ&KLDSDV 3DOND3HWU\VK\Q 0HQ

WKHVHIRUFHVKHOSVZLWKWKHSURYLVLRQRIUDLQZDWHUJDPH

RUJDQL]HDQGPDQDJHWKHYLVLWVWRWKHULWXDOODQGVFDSHVXFKDQLPDOVDQGWKLQJVSHRSOHQHHG7KHSLOJULPDJHDOVRLV

DV0D\DUXLQVFOL൵VFDYHVDQGPRXQWDLQWRSV )LJXUH

VHHQDVXQLWLQJWKHKHDYHQVZLWKWKHHDUWKDQGFUHDWLQJ 7KHPHQW\SLFDOO\DUHUHOLJLRXVOHDGHUVRUSHRSOHRIZRUOGEDODQFHDQGUHQHZDO $VWRU$JXLOHUDDQG-DUYHQSDKLJKVRFLDOVWDWXVLQ/DFDQGRQFRPPXQLWLHV7KH\FDUU\SS 7KHJURXSSLOJULPDJHDQGULWXDOVDOVR

RXWWKHSLOJULPDJHVWRFRPPXQLFDWHZLWKDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVUHVLGLQJLQWKHVHSODFHVWRSHWLWLRQKHDOWKIRUWKHLUIDPLOLHV
UDLQERXQWLIXOKDUYHVWVDQGJHQHUDOZHOOEHLQJDQGEDODQFH

Figure 20.5.

LQWKHLUZRUOG7RWKLVHQG/DFDQGRQPHQDUULYHWRULWXDOLacandon Maya man rowing to a mountain shrine at LakeSODFHVLQWKHODQGVFDSHDZD\IURPWKHLUVHWWOHPHQWVVLQFH

Mensabak, Chiapas, Mexico (courtesy of the author).

WKHDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVZLWKZKRPWKH\OLYHRQWKHHDUWKDUH
SRWHQWLDOO\GDQJHURXV+HUHWKHPHQSURYLGHFKDQWVDQG
R൵HULQJVRILQFHQVHDQGIRRGLQFHUDPLFJRGSRWVWRSODFDWH
WKHDQLPLVWLFIRUFHV)ROORZLQJWKHULWHVWKH\UHWXUQKRPHZLWKVWRQHVIURPWKHULWXDOSODFHVWRSXWLQWKHLUJRGSRWVLQWKHLUWHPSOHV

Maya Pilgrimage and Community at Mensabak$UFKDHRORJ\DW0HQVDEDNGHPRQVWUDWHVWKHLPSRUWDQFH
of pilgrimage to ritual places for past Maya populations
DQGWKHFRPSDUDWLYHLQIRUPDWLRQGLVFXVVHGDERYHKHOSVXVXQGHUVWDQGSDVWEHKDYLRU 3DOND $W0HQVDEDN
DWDOOS\UDPLGDOPRXQWDLQWKH0LUDGRU0RXQWDLQZLWKDQ
H[SRVHGFOL൵DQGODUJHFDYHV\VWHPLVIRXQGDWWKHHGJHRIDEHDXWLIXOODNH )LJXUH 7KHFOL൵IDFHVHDVWDQGLVVWDLQHGUHGZKLFKLVWKHFRORUDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKLVFDUGLQDO
GLUHFWLRQLQ0HVRDPHULFDQFRVPRORJ\$ODUJHYHUWLFDOFDYHHQWUDQFHUHVWVDWWKHWRSRIWKHPRXQWDLQZKHUH0D\DUDLVHG

252

DVPDOOWHPSOHLQWKHODWH3UHFODVVLFSHULRG )LJXUH 

Figure 20.6.

7KLVPRXQWDLQVKULQHH[HPSOL¿HVWKHFRQFHSWRIWKHFOHIWThe Mirador Mountain shrine at Lake Mensabak, Chiapas,

ZDWHUPRXQWDLQLQ0HVRDPHULFDQORUH±DKROORZPRXQWDLQ

0H[LFR1RWHWKHH[SRVHGFOLৼWRWKHHDVWDQGWKHDUHDRIWKH

¿OOHGZLWKZDWHUVXVWHQDQFHDQGWKHVRXOHQHUJLHVRI

terraces on the north (right) side of the mountain (courtesy

SHRSOHSODQWVDQGDQLPDOV 0F&D൵HUW\3DOND

of the author).

 7KLVZDWHUPRXQWDLQRUDOWHSHWOLQ$]WHF1DKXDWODQGZLW]LQ0D\DQODQJXDJHVV\PEROL]HVDSODFHRIRULJLQSROLW\DVLJQL¿FDQWULWXDOSODFHLQDGGLWLRQWRFRPPXQLW\,PSRUWDQWO\WKH0LUDGRU0RXQWDLQDW/DNH0HQVDEDNLV
WKHRULJLQSODFHRIWKH7XOLMi5LYHU±DZDWHUZD\RIJUHDWimportance leading to more densely populated areas and
WUDGHURXWHVRQWKH*XOI&RDVWRI7DEDVFR3LOJULPVIROORZHGWKH7XOLMi5LYHURUWUDLOVWRUHDFKWKHZDWHUPRXQWDLQDW0HQVDEDNRYHUWKHODVWWZRPLOOHQLD
7KHODWH3UHFODVVLF0D\DFRQVWUXFWHGWHPSOHVSOD]DVDQG
FDQRHSRUWVDWWKHEDVHRIWKHPRXQWDLQ7KH\DOVREXLOWWKLUWHHQWHUUDFHVZKLFKUHÀHFWWKHQXPEHURIOHYHOVLQWKH
0HVRDPHULFDQVN\UHDOPVDQGVKULQHVRQWKHPRXQWDLQ¶VQRUWKVLGHIRUODUJHQXPEHUVRISLOJULPVWRDVFHQG )LJXUHA large number of ceramic stamps at all Postclassic sites /DUJHQXPEHUVRIZRUVKLSHUVFRXOGJDWKHUQHDUPD\GHSLFW0LUDGRU0RXQWDLQPXFKOLNHDWRSRQ\PJO\SKWHPSOHVDQGLQSOD]DVDW0LUDGRU0RXQWDLQDQGLQVRPHZKLFKV\PEROL]HGWKLVSODFHDQGSHRSOH¶VULWXDOWLHVWR

RIWKHVKULQHVIXUWKHUXS+RZHYHUWKHWHPSOHVVPDOO

LW7KH3URWRKLVWRULF0D\DEXLOWDVPDOOVHWWOHPHQWLQD

SOD]DVDQGWKHVXPPLW¶VVDQFWXDU\KDGUHVWULFWHGDFFHVV

3UHFODVVLFSOD]DDWWKHEDVHRIWKHPRXQWDLQDQGFRQVWUXFWHGOLNHO\IRUHOLWHVUHOLJLRXVVSHFLDOLVWVDQGULWXDOVSRQVRUVWKHLUSROLWLFDOFHQWHU/D3XQWDRQWKHVRXWKHQGRIWKH

,QWHUHVWLQJO\WKHFRQVWUXFWLRQVRIDODWH3UHFODVVLFVLWH

LVODQGZKHUHWKHPRXQWDLQUHVWV7KHHOLWHEXLOGLQJVDW/D

FDOOHG1RK.XKORFDWHGRQHNLORPHWHUWRWKHVRXWKDUH

3XQWDPDLQWDLQWKHVDPHRULHQWDWLRQVRIWKHVKULQHVRQ

RULHQWHGWRWKLVPRXQWDLQVKULQH -XDUH]HWDO ,WLV

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7KHUHIRUH 3URWRKLVWRULF HOLWHV RUJDQL]HG WKHVKULQHDQG1RK.XKEXWFRPPRQHUVVXSSRUWHGWKHH൵RUWVFRQVWUXFWLRQV DW /D 3XQWD DQG OLNHO\ PDQDJHG WKHDQGSURYLGHGWKHODERUWRPDLQWDLQULWXDOVIRUFRPPXQLW\ULWXDOVRQWKHPRXQWDLQVKULQHV+RZHYHUFRPPXQLW\VROLGDULW\3HUKDSVHFRQRPLFLQWHUDFWLRQRFFXUUHGDWWKLVPHPEHUV SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ WKH FROOHFWLYH ULWXDOV DQG

VLWHDQGLQWKHSOD]DVQHDU0LUDGRU0RXQWDLQSURYLGHGODERUIRUWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQV$UWLIDFWVDVVRFLDWHG

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WRYLVLWWKHYDULRXVPRXQWDLQFOL൵DQGFDYHVKULQHVDQG

FHUDPLFVIURP7DEDVFRFRSSHUDUWLIDFWVIURP&HQWUDORUWRUHSRSXODWHWKHODNH7KH\PDGHR൵HULQJVDWWKHVKULQHV

:HVW0H[LFRJUHHQREVLGLDQIURP3DFKXFDLQ&HQWUDO

DQGEXULHGWKHLUGHDGLQFDYHVRQ0LUDGRU0RXQWDLQ0H[LFRDQGVKHOOIURPWKH3DFL¿F&RDVWRI&KLDSDV

253

Figure 20.7.
Map of the terraces, shrines, and temple complex near a vertical cave entrance on the summit of the Mirador Mountain
DW/DNH0HQVDEDN&KLDSDV0H[LFR PDSE\&+HUQDQGH]DQG-3DONDFRXUWHV\RIWKHDXWKRU 

7KHVHDUWLIDFWVSRLQWWRVLJQL¿FDQWLQWHUUHJLRQDOLQWHUDFWLRQGDQFHDQGSUD\HUDWWKHVKULQHVDQGSOD]DVWRFRPPXQLFDWH

7KHKLJKSHUFHQWDJHRIJUHHQ3DFKXFDREVLGLDQFRPSDUHGZLWKWKHIRUFHVWRDFTXLUHZKDWWKH\QHHGHGDQGEDODQFH

WRRWKHUVLWHVLQ&KLDSDVSRLQWVWRWKHSUHVHQFHRIRUFRQWDFWLQ WKHLU ZRUOG7KH ULWXDOV DOVR SURYLGHG FRPPXQLW\ZLWK$]WHFWUDGHUVRUSLOJULPVIURP&HQWUDO0H[LFRVROLGDULW\DPRQJWKHSLOJULPVYLVLWLQJWKHPRXQWDLQDQGWR

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DUULYHG WR FRPPXQLFDWH ZLWK DQLPLVWLF IRUFHV 7KHRIFROOHFWLYLW\PD\KDYHLQFOXGHGWKHDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVDWPRXQWDLQRIZDWHUDQGVXVWHQDQFHDWWKLVLPSRUWDQWULWXDOWKLVSODFH(OLWHVZRXOGKDYHFHPHQWHGWKHLUDXWKRULW\DQG

SODFHZDVSHUKDSVVHHQDVDSODFHRIRULJLQIRUORFDO0D\D

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254

forces of people, plants, and animals, according to general

Discussion and Conclusion: Pilgrimage, Ritual Places,

0HVRDPHULFDQEHOLHIV 3DOND 6LJQL¿FDQWJHRJUDSKLF

and Society

IHDWXUHVVXFKDVWKLVZDWHUPRXQWDLQZHUHEHOLHYHGWR

,QWKLVHVVD\,RXWOLQHGWKHVLJQL¿FDQFHRISLOJULPDJHFRQWDLQDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVRUKDYLQJOLYLQJHQHUJ\LQWKHLU

LQ0HVRDPHULFDQVRFLHWLHVRYHUWLPHDQGSRLQWHGRXWRZQULJKW3HRSOHSURYLGHGR൵HULQJVDQGSRVVLEO\PXVLF

its religious underpinnings and social, political, andHFRQRPLFLPSRUWDQFH,QWKLVFXOWXUHDUHDSHRSOHXQGHUWDNH

PRUHDQDO\VLVLQWKLVFXOWXUHDUHDSLOJULPDJHVWRYLVLWULWXDOSODFHVOLQNHGWRDQLPLVWLFIRUFHV

3LOJULPDJHLQPDQ\DUHDVRIWKHJOREHLVFHQWUDOWRWRSODFDWHWKHPZLWKR൵HULQJV7KHVHULWXDOSODFHVZKLFKJURXSLGHQWLW\DQGFRPPXQLW\VROLGDULW\3HRSOHWUDYHOLQFOXGHWHPSOHVFDYHVPRXQWDLQVDQGVSULQJVFDQEHWRJHWKHURUPHHWDWWKHVKULQHVWRMRLQWKHULWXDOV7KH\VKDUH

YLHZHGDVFRPPXQLFDWLRQSODFHVRUWKHGZHOOLQJVRIUHOLJLRXVEHOLHIVDQGFHUHPRQLHVZKHWKHUWKH\SUDFWLFHDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVVXFKDVHDUWKORUGVDQFHVWRUVDQGLQYLVLEOH

WKHPVHSDUDWHO\RULQFURZGVDWWKHULWXDOSODFHVZKLFKFDQQRQKXPDQHQWLWLHV,Q0HVRDPHULFDSHRSOHWUDYHOWRWKHVH

EXWQRWDOZD\VDFFRPPRGDWHODUJHJURXSV7KHSLOJULPDJH

SODFHVWRFRPPXQLFDWHZLWKDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVWRREWDLQZKDWULWHVFUHDWHDVHQVHRIFRPPXQLW\RUFROOHFWLYHLGHQWLW\IRUWKH\QHHGVXFKDVUDLQDJULFXOWXUDODEXQGDQFHKHDOWKDQG

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IRUWKHVDPHFXOWXUDOUHDVRQV2IWHQWKHVKULQHVDUHOLQNHGZRUOGDQGLQWKHFRVPRVE\JLYLQJIRRGSUD\HUDQGRWKHUWRWKHRULJLQVRIDSHRSOHDQGDUHWKHKRPHVRIRUSODFHVWRWKLQJVGHVLUHGE\WKHDQLPLVWLFIRUFHVFRQWDFWGHLWLHVLPSRUWDQWLQSDUWLFXODUFXOWXUHV7KHVKULQHV

7KH 0HVRDPHULFDQ FDVH LQGLFDWHV WKH UHOLJLRXVDUHDOVRWKHUHVLGHQFHVRIWXWHODU\DQGSURWHFWLYHGHLWLHVIRU

LPSRUWDQFHRISLOJULPDJHLQSHRSOH¶VOLYHV3LOJULPDJHSHRSOHLQVSHFL¿FVRFLHWLHV3LOJULPDJHDQGJDWKHULQJVDW

LQRWKHUSDUWVRIWKHZRUOGLVXQGHUWDNHQIRUUHOLJLRXVVLJQL¿FDQWULWXDOSODFHVFDOODWWHQWLRQWRDSHRSOH¶VFXOWXUDOUHDVRQVDVZHOOLQFOXGLQJIRUFRQWDFWLQJGLYLQHIRUFHV

DQGFRPPXQLW\URRWVDQGVRFLDOEHORQJLQJ0DUNHWVDQG

VXFKDVJRGVVSLULWXDOHQWLWLHVDQGDQFHVWRUV3HRSOHOHDYH

HFRQRPLFH[FKDQJHQHDUWKHWHPSOHVDQGVKULQHVFDQDOVR

R൵HULQJVWRWKHVHGLYLQHIRUFHVFRPPXQLFDWHZLWKWKHP

EHQH¿WVRFLHW\E\EULQJLQJSHRSOHWRJHWKHUDQGIDFLOLWDWLQJDQGUHFHLYHWKHLUEOHVVLQJV7KHFRPPXQLFDWLRQZLWKLPSRUWDQWHFRQRPLFDFWLYLW\WKHVHVSLULWXDOHQWLWLHVLQSLOJULPDJHLQGL൵HUHQWFXOWXUHVLV

7KHFRQVWUXFWLRQRIWHPSOHVDQGODQGVFDSHVKULQHVLPSRUWDQWIRUSHRSOHWRIHHOWKH\DFKLHYHEDODQFHLQWKHLU

LVUHODWHGWRUHOLJLRXVEHOLHIVFHUHPRQLDOEHKDYLRUDQG

ZRUOGSOXVH[SODLQWKHLUSODFHLQLW2IWHQWLPHVSHRSOH

PDLQWDLQLQJFROOHFWLYHLGHQWLW\LQSLOJULPDJHDFURVVWLPH

WDNHPRPHQWRVRUPDWHULDOEOHVVLQJVIURPWKHSLOJULPDJH

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specialists created ritual places in non-sedentary societies

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community solidarity can be reinforced by pilgrimage,

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Figure 20.8.

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Cenote (right), at Chinkultic, Chiapas, Mexico (courtesy

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of the author).

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In Mesoamerica, pilgrimage to ritual places, ceremonies

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Similar religious, social, and economic aspects of

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DQGLWVFXOWXUDOLPSRUWDQFH 7XUQHUDQG7XUQHU $]WHFSHRSOHFKRVHWKLVULWXDOSODFHEHFDXVHRIDQDWXUDOVSULQJRQDKLOO5LWHVKHUHKRQRUHGWKHHDUWKPRWKHUHDUWKReferences Cited

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DVDQFWXDU\UHODWHGWRWKH9LUJLQRI*XDGDOXSHDQGDWWUDFWHG

communicating objects: Quadripartite crosses,

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trees, and stones. 8QLYHUVLW\RI1HZ0H[LFR3UHVVVL]HDEOHPDUNHWJUHZDURXQGWKHVKULQHZKHUHSHRSOH$VWRU $JXLOHUD 0 DQG 5 -DUYHQSD  ERXJKWIRRGFORWKLQJDQGPRPHQWRV3HULRGLFFHUHPRQLHV&RPSDULQJ,QGLJHQRXVSLOJULPDJHV'HYRWLRQ

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GH ODV HQWLGDGHV DQtPLFDV GH ORV -DFK :LQLNFKXUFKDQGORFDOJRYHUQPHQWVPDQDJHWKHVKULQHDQGWKH

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Many additional examples of pilgrimage to ritual%DXHU%DQG&6WDQLVK  Ritual and pilgrimage
in the ancient Andes: The Islands of the Sun andMoon. 8QLYHUVLW\RI7H[DV3UHVVplaces, community dynamics, elite participation, and its%RUKHJ\L6)GH  Archaeological reconnaissance

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of Chinkulitic, Chiapas, Mexico0LGGOH$PHULFDQZRUOGRYHUWLPHUHLQIRUFLQJWKHQHDUXQLYHUVDOLPSRUWDQFH

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WKH\EULQJWRVWUXFWXUHWKHFRYHQDQWVRUDJUHHPHQWVIRU

Tracing the relational: The archaeology of worlds,

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spirits, and temporalities.8QLYHUVLW\RI8WDK3UHVVRIFRPPXQLW\EHORQJLQJ7KHVHKXPDQEHKDYLRUVDQG

&ORWWHV -   What is Paleolithic art? Cave

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(DGH-DQG0-6DOOQRZ (GV   Contesting

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the sacred: The anthropology of Christian

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pilgrimage. 8QLYHUVLW\RI,OOLQRLV3UHVV257

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and earth lords: Maya religion in the cave context,

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SS ± 8QLYHUVLW\ 3UHVV RI &RORUDGR$QFLHQW0HVRPHULFD  ±

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earth monster: Mesoamerican ritual cave use,SS 7KHVLWHRI1RK.¶XK&KLDSDV0H[LFR$ODWH3UHFODVVLFVHWWOHPHQWLQWKH0HQVDEDN%DVLQ

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3RUU0DQG+5%HOO  µ5RFNDUW¶µDQLPLVP¶/DWLQ$PHULFDQ$QWLTXLW\  ±

DQGWZRZD\WKLQNLQJ7RZDUGVDFRPSOLPHQWDU\.XEOHU *   3UHFROXPELDQ SLOJULPDJHV LQ

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0HVRDPHULFD Diogenes 32  ±

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0DQ]DQLOOD / 5 (GV    Multiethnicity and

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory

migration at Teopancazco: Investigations of a
Teotihuacan neighborhood center.8QLYHUVLW\3UHVVRI)ORULGD
0F&D൵HUW\*  0RXQWDLQRIKHDYHQPRXQWDLQRIHDUWK7KH*UHDW3\UDPLGRI&KROXODDVVDFUHGODQGVFDSH,Q5.RRQW].5HHVH7D\ORUDQG
$ +HDGULFN (GV  Landscape and power in±
3RZHOO06DQG&-*UDG\ (GV   Huichol
art and culture: Balancing the world0XVHXPRI
1HZ0H[LFR3UHVV5HDGHU,  Pilgrimage: A Very Short Introduction.
2[IRUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV
6DEOR൵-$DQG:/5DWKMH HGLWRUV  

ancient Mesoamerica,SS±:HVWYLHZA study of changing Precolumbian commercial

3UHVV

V\VWHPV 7KH ± VHDVRQV DW &R]XPHO

0F&RUULVWRQ-  Pilgrimage and household in
the Ancient Near East.&DPEULGJH8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV0RQDJKDQ -   The covenants with the earth
DQGUDLQ([FKDQJHVDFUL¿FHDQGUHYHODWLRQLQ

Mexico+DUYDUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV
6WRQH$-  6SLULWXDO-RXUQH\V6HFXODU*XLVHV
5RFN$UWDQG(OLWH3LOJULPDJHDW1DM7XQLFK&DYH
Mexicon 36  ±

Mixtec society. 8QLYHUVLW\RI2NODKRPD3UHVV

6XJL\DPD 6  :RUOGYLHZ PDWHULDOL]HG DW

0\HUKRII % *   Peyote hunt: The sacred

7HRWLKXDFDQLatin American Antiquity 4( ±journey of the Huichol indians. &RUQHOO8QLYHUVLW\
3UHVV

258

3DWHO 6   3LOJULPDJH DQG FDYHV RQ &R]XPHO
7RZQVHQG 5   7KH UHQHZDO RI QDWXUH DW

3DOND - :   Maya pilgrimage to ritual

WKHWHPSOHRI7ODORF,Q57RZQVHQG (G The

landscapes: Insights from archaeology, history, andancient Americas: Art from sacred landscapesSS

ethnography.8QLYHUVLW\RI1HZ0H[LFR3UHVV

±$UW,QVWLWXWHRI&KLFDJR7XUQHU9DQG(7XUQHU  Image and Pilgrimage
in Christian Culture&ROXPELD8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV:KHDWOH\3  The pivot of the four quarters: A
preliminary enquiry into the origins and characterof the ancient Chinese City.$OGLQH3XEOLVKLQJ&R
:UHQ / & .ULVWDQ*UDKDP 7 1\JDUG DQG .
6SHQFHU (GV   Landscapes of the Itzá:
Archaeology and art history at Chichen Itza andneighboring sites. 8QLYHUVLW\3UHVVRI)ORULGD

259