ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5064-1063

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Language

English

Embargo Period

3-27-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Anthropology

Program

Anthropology

First Advisor

Robert M. Rosenswig

Second Advisor

Marilyn A. Masson

Third Advisor

Christopher Wolff

Keywords

Archaeology, Mesoamerica, Territory

Subject Categories

Archaeological Anthropology

Abstract

This dissertation examines the concept of territory in premodern polities, challenging modern assumptions that territory is a static or obsolete notion in the face of globalization. It critiques the conventional Westphalian model of state sovereignty, emphasizing that premodern political entities often exhibited flexible, overlapping territorial arrangements rather than fixed, linear boundaries. By analyzing territorial organization in premodern societies, this research explores the historical evolution of territoriality, identifying continuities and transformations over time.

Drawing from archaeology, anthropology, and historical geography, the research investigates how different societies have defined and maintained territorial control based on factors such as political authority, economic resources, kinship, and cultural identity. As a case study, this dissertation presents archaeological research conducted in Ocozocoautla, Chiapas, Mexico. Through field surveys and material analysis, it reconstructs settlement patterns and territorial organization from the Middle Formative Period (ca. 1000-300 BCE) to the Postclassic (AD 1000-1500). The findings contribute to broader discussions on the role of space in political organization, highlighting how territoriality in premodern societies functioned at multiple scales and often diverged from modern state-based frameworks.

By proposing an alternative framework for conceptualizing territoriality, one that accounts for spatial heterogeneity and dynamic political landscapes, this study offers insights into the long-term structures of human territorial organization. The research underscores the need to reconsider the rigid, nation-state-centered perspectives on territory and to integrate historical and archaeological evidence into contemporary discussions on political geography.

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Download

Share

COinS