Rice, Prudence M., authorUniversity Press of Colorado, publisher2019-04-102019-04-102019https://hdl.handle.net/10217/194487Includes bibliographical references and index.Exploring the sociocultural significance of approximately three hundred Middle Preclassic Maya figurines uncovered at Nixtun-Ch'ich' on Lake Petén Itzá in northern Guatemala. In this analysis--hand-modeled, terracotta, anthropomorphic fragments, animal figures, and musical instruments. Rice offers a broad swath of theory and comparative data on ritual practice.--Provided by publisher.Why figurines? -- Ritual, cooperation, costly signaling, and storytelling -- Overview: the human figure in formative Mesoamerica -- The Preclassic Maya lowlands and Central Petén -- Central Petén Preclassic anthropomorphic figurines: the body -- The human head and face in formative Mesoamerica: biological considerations -- Central Petén Preclassic anthropomorphic figurines: heads and faces -- Formative Mesoamerican heads: headgear, headdresses, and hairstyles -- Temporality, the sacred almanac, and writing -- Maya head-variant graphemes -- Summary and overview: Preclassic figurine heads and Classic Maya portrait glyphs -- Sound: musical instruments and zoomorphs -- Geochemistry: compositional analysis of Nixtun-Ch'ich' and Ixlu figurines -- Figurines, meanings, and contexts -- Anthropomorphizing the cosmos.born digitalbooksengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.All rights reserved. User is responsible for compliance. Please contact University Press of Colorado at https://upcolorado.com/our-books/rights-and-permissions for use information.Maya sculpture -- Guatemala -- Petén (Department)Mayas -- Guatemala -- Petén (Department) -- AntiquitiesExcavations (Archaeology) -- Guatemala -- Petén (Department)Figurines -- Guatemala -- Petén (Department)Rites and ceremonies -- Guatemala -- Petén (Department) -- History -- To 1500Nixtun-Ch'ich' Site (Guatemala)Petén (Guatemala : Department) -- AntiquitiesTextAccess is limited to the Adams State University, Colorado State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, Community College of Denver, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University Denver, Regis University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Utah State University and Western Colorado University communities only.