This book examines from an archaeological perspective the social and economic changes that took place in Yucatán, 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 Yucatán 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.

Table of Contents:
On the Periphery of the Periphery.-A Theoretical Context for Documenting Social Change in Yucatán: Changing Modes of Production and the Entry of the Maya into the World-System.-A Theoretical Context for Documenting Social Change in Yucatán: Culture Change, Social Stratification, and Power Relationships.-Methodological Approaches to the Social and Economic Dynamics of Life on a Hacienda.-A Historical Outline of Hacienda San Juan Bautista Tabi.-Archaeological Investigations at Hacienda Tabi.-The Long Duration: The Geohistory of the Yucatán Peninsula.-The Long Duration: The Cultural History of the Yucatán Peninsula.-The Medium Term: The 16th –19th Centuries in Yucatán.-The Short Term: The Implications of Archaeology for Understanding Life at Hacienda Tabi.-Total History: The Meaning of Hacienda Tabi.-Appendix A: Transcription of the Legend and Accompanying Description for the 1817 Hacienda Tabi Map.- Appendix B: Chi-Square Contingency Tables Comparing Dwelling Types and Ceramic Frequencies.-Index.