ANTH 251 Mesoamerican  Archaeology
Assignments 

Annotated Bibliography

1. Must turn in a list of at least five references (only 2 may be web sites).

 2. Typed and bibliographic form.

            a. Follow MLA or other style, be consistent.

            b. For web sites list address, title and author (if any).

            c. Information on Bibliography-http://www.oneonta.edu/library/infoliteracy/bibliog.html

 3. State topic at the top of the list, along with name and section number.

 4. Each reference should have a written summary (at least one paragraph to one-half page for each):

a. explaining what type of reference it is (book, journal article, web site).

            1. be very careful in evaluating web sites.

2. make sure the author of the site is from a reliable source and he/she documents where there information came from.

b. how this reference relates to your topic (is it a general overview, specific, etc.).

c. specific information that this reference includes (names, dates, sites,  etc.).

5.  Books and journal should be from “primary” resources, such as American Antiquity. (Although National Geographic is an excellent resource, it is not primary).

 Example:

 Topic:  “Developments in Mesoamerican Ceramic Styles”

Example:

Renee B. Walker

ANTH 251 Section 01

Weaver, M.P.

            1993 The Aztec, Maya and their Predecessors.  Academic Press, San Diego.

    This is a book that incorporates general information on Mesoamerica and includes all aspects of Mesoamerican Prehistory.  It covers all aspects of Mesoamerican cultures and will be a key resource for background information on my topic.  Although it is not specifically about ceramics, it does cover information on ceramic types for each culture and time period.  Thus, I will be able to use it to compare and contrast styles over space and time.

    This book includes specific dates and sites that relate to cultural development.  Weavers' information is extremely detailed, particularly on early formative developments such as agriculture and monumental architecture.  She also includes chapters on the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Toltecs, Tarascans and Aztec.  Each chapter is divided up into geographic areas and the data is summarized in this way.  This makes this reference particularly useful for my topic. 

    Negative aspects of this reference are that there is not much detail about the manufacture of the ceramics.  The information is mainly descriptive in the sense that it illustrates the ceramic styles for each culture and time period, but does not specifically discuss how these styles were achieved.  A book or web site that was more focused on ceramics would be of more use in this regard.  Overall, however, this would be a key reference for a paper on the topic of the ceramics in Mesoamerica.

 http://www.islc.net/~lesleyl/formative.html  Formative Mesoamerica

     This web page incorporates examples of ceramic figures from the Formative Period. In particular, it illustrates several hollow anthropomorphic ceramic figures that are found in many monuments and vessels from this period. Many of the figures are from the early Formative site of Tlatilco, in Central Mexico.  Information on this page includes good, specific illustrations of vessels and other artifacts dating to the early Formative period.  Other than serving as an example of illustrations, this page would not be useful as a comprehensive reference on this topic.  However, combined with other illustrative  resources from web sites or books, this site would allow an excellent point of comparison for Formative period ceramics.

*These examples represent the minimal (half-page) amount of summary necessary for each reference.

Presentation

Each group will have 10-15 minutes to present their topic.  This includes any set-up (such as videos, slides or overheads).

Each person in the group must speak to the class (at least briefly).

Each member of the group is to hand in a one page summary of their part in the presentation on the last day of class.  This must include any references that were used (from annotated bibliography).

The order of presentations will be selected in April. This means that every group must be prepared to present the first day of presentations (April 25).  Please try to be on time so we can get underway quickly.

You can select any topic having to do with Mesoamerica.  If your group selects a topic already covered in class, it would be good to include new information.