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(RE)DISCOVERING THE OLMEC: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY- SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPEDITIONS TO VERACRUZ/TABASCO, 1939-1946 by Rosemary Durkin Lyon submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Robert L. Humphrey, lean of the College of Arts and Sciences Date 1997 The American University Washington, D.C. 20016 SHE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1383903 Copyright 1997 by Lyon, Rosemary Durkin All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1383903 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. COPYRIGHT by ROSEMARY DURKIN LYON 1 9 9 7 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. When I resigned from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars to begin graduate studies in anthropology, my husband, John Lyon, my children, Philip and Julia Lyon, and my mother-in-law, Carolyn Bartel Lyon, were unanimous in their support for my decision. I dedicate this thesis to them in appreciation for the confidence they demonstrated in me and for their patience during the long months of my graduate program. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. (RE)DISCOVERING THE OLMECrNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY-SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION EXPEDITIONS TO VERACRUZ/TABASCO, 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 6 BY Rosemary Durkin Lyon ABSTRACT In this thesis, I examine from a comparative perspective eight National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Institution archaeological expeditions to Veracruz/Tabasco, Mexico, which took place between 1939 and 1946. The participating archaeologists-research leader Matthew Stirling, and assistants Clarence Weiant, Philip Drucker, and Waldo Wedel-carried out important fieldwork which produced the first significant body of information about Formative period Olmec civilization. Although the four archaeologists had in common an allegiance to the paradigm of culture history, they differed in their backgrounds, education, experience and objectives. I look at how such factors are reflected in the way the expeditions were constituted and carried out, demonstrating that the production of archaeological information is a complex, and sometimes fragmented, process which is affected by multiple factors, including the personal traits of investigators, individual and organizational agendas, the use of different methodologies, and the political and economic context of the excavations. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people provided suggestions and assistance as I worked on this thesis. I am greatly indebted to Professor Robert Humphrey of George Washington University, in whose seminar on Mesoamerican archaeology I first became interested in the Olmec, and to his wife, Johanna Humphrey of the National Museum of Natural History, who introduced me to the Olmec collection of the Smithsonian Institution. For an invaluable—and very pleasant-opportunity to learn about the National Geographic-Smithsonian Institution expeditions from one of the participants, I would like to thank Marion Stirling Pugh, who graciously gave me the benefit of her memories about the field seasons in Southern Mexico. Her input and helpfulness cannot be overstated. George Stuart, Vice President for Research and Exploration of the National Geographic Society, spoke with me about the expeditions and their significance for Mesoamerican archaeology. I very much appreciate his assistance, and that of Richard Diehl and Sue Scott of the University of Alabama, who shared their reminiscences with me. My professors at American University-Richard J. Dent and Charles McNett— deserve sincere thanks for their advice and support, as do Dr. Lesley Gill, who made helpful suggestions about my proposal, and Dr. Dolores Koenig, whose thesis/dissertation seminar prodded me to make progress. The research staff of the National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian i i i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Institution, and of the Smithsonian Institution Archives, were also very helpful. Last but not least, my family’s supportive attitude was a fundamental source of encouragement* To these individuals, and to others who helped in innumerable ways, I express my thanks. iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.............................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................iii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................1 2. AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW................................................... 5 3. THE EXPEDITIONS TO SOUTHERN MEXICO......................... 10 4. EXPEDITION SUMMARIES ......................................................15 5. OBJECTIVES AND INFLUENCES ........................................... 29 6. METHODOLOGY.....................................................................52 7. PUBLICATIONS...................................................................... 92 8. INTERPRETATION...............................................................102 9. CONCLUSIONS..................................................................... 115 APPENDICES............................................................................................ 122 BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................... 128 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Olmec were a pre-historic people who flourished between 1200 B.C. and 300 B.C. in what are now the Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Many scholars believe that the Olmec developed the first great civilization of Middle America. Although our current knowledge is very incomplete, present evidence leads some archaeologists to regard Olmec society as having been hierarchical in nature, with a ruling or priestly class ranked above social classes of lower standing. A hallmark of Olmec civilization was a distinctive and sophisticated art style, which found its strongest expression in sculpture- a style which can be observed in relatively small objects carved from jade and serpentine (such as masquettes, votive axes, and ear ornaments), as well as in giant sculptures carved from basalt. Although it sometimes contains representations of plants and animals, Olmec sculpture focused primarily on the human form (such as the colossal heads, which probably represented real individuals), or upon anthropomorphic beings (such as the “were-jaguar,” a creature with an amalgamation of human and feline characteristics). Much of Olmec sculpture is carved “in the round,” and is quite distinct from the sculptural styles of later Middle American cultures such as the Maya. In December 1995 and June 1996, major exhibits of Olmec art were mounted at the Princeton University Art Gallery and at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. The attention these exhibits received was remarkable, since the artistic expression of the people we call “Olmec” was virtually unknown,