The Dynamics of Maya State Process: An Integrated Perspective from the San Lucas Neighborhood of Copán, Honduras

Research at the UNESCO-listed Maya city of Copán, Honduras, reveals that state power during the Classic Period (AD 250–900) was not solely top-down but also deeply embedded in neighborhood-level dynamics. By analyzing six households in the San Lucas neighborhood, the study demonstrates how infrastructural changes—such as landscape engineering and architectural construction—correlated with political events recorded in hieroglyphic inscriptions at Copán Center. This integrated approach shows that state policies significantly influenced daily life, providing a bottom-up perspective on urban political dynamics. The findings challenge traditional views of Maya governance by highlighting the interplay between collective action and state power at an intermediate scale.

Landau, K. V. (2020). The Dynamics of Maya State Process: An Integrated Perspective from the San Lucas Neighborhood of Copán, Honduras. American Anthropologist, 123(1), 150–169. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aman.13514