On the Periphery of the Periphery ─ Household Archaeology at Hacienda San Juan Bautista Tabi, Yucatan, Mexico

This book examines from an archaeological perspective the social and economic changes that took place in Yucatan, Mexico beginning in the 18th century, as the region became increasingly articulated within global networks of exchange. Of particular interest is the formation and ultimate supremacy of the hacienda system in Yucatan and the effect that new forms of capitalist organized production had on native Maya social organization. Household archaeology and spatial analysis conducted on the grounds of the former Hacienda San Juan Bautista Tabi provides the data for analyzing the results of this change on the daily lives and existence of those individuals incorporated within the hacienda system. The use of archaeological excavation to place the lives of local individuals within the context of larger global processes makes this book a worthy contribution to the study of archaeology.

Sam Sweitz is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology and a faculty member of the Industrial Archaeology Program at Michigan Technological University. His research focuses on the evolution and impact of the sugar industry in Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Sweitz is particularly interested in how social change is related to the articulation of local people within global economic processes.