Zinacantan

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In the remote highlands of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico lies one of the most important Mayan Indian communities in Middle America. Zinacantan is a municipality of 8,000 people who speak Tzotzil, a Mayan language, and live in a manner closely resembling that of their preconquest ancestors. Evon Z. Vogt’s book, based on more than a decade of work, is the first full-length ethnographic study of Zinacantan culture. He not only provides detailed ethnographic data on the Zinacantecos, but also relates contemporary Zinacanteco patterns to those of the Ancient Maya of Mexico and Guatemala, and interprets trends of social and cultural change as these Indians for the first time become closely involved with the modern world. Vogt describes the geography and cultural history of the area, and examines the Zinacanteco economic system and material culture, political system and social structure, and the Zinacantecos’ religious rituals and beliefs. He concludes by examining some of Zinacantan’s organizational principles.