Mesoamerica
Extraneous Markings and the Modification of Potbelly Sculptures in Southeastern Mesoamerica
By: ARNAUD F. LAMBERT – The presence and significance of extraneous markings on potbelly sculptures has rarely been addressed by archaeologists. However, recent studies of monument modification in the Olmec-style art of the Gulf Coast lowlands, the art of Teotihuacán, and Classic period Maya monuments indicate that the study of the various ways stone carvings…
Cup-and-Ring Marked Stones in Ancient Mesoamerica
By: ARNAUD F. LAMBERT – This paper presents an overview of all documented examples of cup-and-ring marked stones from Mesoamerican archaeological sites in order to evaluate previous interpretations of the meanings of these enigmatic symbols. Comparisons of their site-specific contexts demonstrate that while the aquatic symbolism of these marks is perhaps their most common attribute,…