Archaeology Magazine - July/August 1981 - 74

pages, frontispiece, 475 black and white
photographs, 459 text figures, bibliography. Peabody Museum, Harvard
University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1980 (Memoirs of the Peabody Museum,
Volume 19)
For many years the architecture of the
Puuc region of Yucatan has been recognized as one of the high points of Maya
artistic achievement. However, despite
such acclaim the region has not received
the detailed archaeological study devoted to southern Maya sites. Pollock's
study of the Puuc ruins is important
because it greatly extends our knowledge of these sites and their architecture.
The term Puuc derives from the Maya
name for a chain of low hills that crosses
the Yucatan peninsula. South of these
hills are a great many Maya sites distinguished by buildings noted for their
superlative cut-stone façades and geometric ornamentation. The best known
examples of Puuc architecture are
found at Uxmal, Kabah, Labna and
Sayil, which flourished from approximately 750 to 950 after Christ. Not surprisingly, these centers are discussed
thoroughly, but the book's great benefit
is that Pollock devotes so much attention to scores of lesser known sites
which heretofore have been neglected.
The short introduction deals with the
general geography, physiography, water supply, soils, climate and vegetation
of the Puuc region. Following this, the
major part of the book consists of a
meticulous record of individual Puuc

ruins. Sites have been divided into two
groups by geographic zone: the Yucatan
ruins and the Campeche ruins. These
are further broken down into subareas.
For each site within these subareas Pollock considers the etymology of the site
name, the location, topography, water
supply, maps, size and civic plan. Particularly important are the formerly unpublished maps of Uxmal, Kabah and
Sayil. All sites are dated, in so far as
possible, by epigraphy, radiocarbon determinations or documentary evidence.
For each site plans, sections and elevations of separate buildings are presented, accompanied by full descriptions of each building's salient architectural features and followed by lists of
miscellaneous sculptures and stone
monuments found there.
Pollock considers this volume primarily as a reference book, and it is well
organized as such. References are provided for each ruin, so that earlier descriptions may be consulted easily.
Drawings and photographs are referred
to clearly in the text and are presented
in an attractive layout. One minor
drawback concerns the photographs.
They are printed on the same quality
paper as the text so the detail is occasionally lost.
Pollock concludes with a summary
and review, whose most stimulating as-,
pect is his discussion of Puuc architectural chronology. Largely on the basis of
masonry style, Pollock divides structures into four stylistic phases termed
Early Oxkintok (475-600 after Christ),
Proto-Puuc (600-700), Early Puuc (700-

800) and Late or Classic Puuc (800-950).
The transition is from buildings with
simple base moldings, block masonry
walls, rough slab vaults and decorations
in modelled stucco to buildings with
complex moldings, thin stones facing a
concrete core, boot-shaped vault stones
and cut-stone façade ornament. As Pollock admits, the dating is most secure
for the Early Oxkintok and Classic
Puuc periods, with considerable possibility for alteration of the intermediate
sequence pending new archaeological
excavation or ceramic studies. Nevertheless, this study represents the most
comprehensive and convincing discussion of Puuc architectural chronology in
print.
One of the most important aspects of
the book is the thorough record of Puuc
stone sculptures and hieroglyphic inscriptions. Little Puuc sculpture has
been illustrated or discussed since Tatiana Proskouriakoff described its various non-Classic and "Mexican" traits in
the 1950's. Pollock does not undertake a
concentrated discussion of sculptural
style or meaning, but his book will be
essential to any scholars interested in
undertaking such a task in the future.
Many of the hieroglyphic inscriptions
are presented here for the first time. It
has sometimes been asserted that the
northern Maya lacked interest in the
hieroglyphic writing system of the
south. These new texts demonstrate
that the Puuc were also interested in
recording their own affairs. Lately,
scholars have begun to show that dynastic records and historical rulers are
referred to in the glyphic texts to Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Kabah. Pollock's
new corpus of inscriptions should stimulate investigation of northern Maya political history.
The Puuc is a volume whose breadth
and detail will make it a valuable research tool for years to come. It is highly
recommended for serious students of
Mesoamerican antiquity or for readers
with a special interest in the art of the
Maya.
JEFF KARL KOWALSKI teaches in the
Department of Art History, Tyler Schoolof
Art, TempleUniversityin Philadelphia.
The Sea-Craft
of Prehistory
by
Paul Johnstone, edited by Sean McGrail. xviii, 260 pages, 150 black and
white photographs, 86 text figures. Harvard University Press, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, 1980 $25.00
Since its publication in 1946, James
Hornell's Water Transport has been the
definitive source for any study of such
primitive craft as rafts, bark and skin
boats and dugouts. Based primarily on
Hornell's worldwide field studies and

Archaeology

Archaeology Magazine - July/August 1981

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