The Wood-Carver's Art in Ancient Mexico

"The Wood-Carver's Art in Ancient Mexico" is a comprehensive scholarly examination of the intricate and often overlooked tradition of wood sculpture in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Written by noted archaeologist Marshall H. Saville, this work meticulously documents the surviving examples of wooden artifacts from various indigenous cultures, with a particular focus on the Aztec and other civilizations of central Mexico. Because wood is a perishable material, few specimens have survived the centuries, making this study an invaluable resource for understanding the aesthetic and ritual life of ancient peoples.

The book catalogs a variety of objects, including ceremonial masks, spear-throwers (atlatls), drums (teponaztli), and idols. Saville provides detailed descriptions and historical context for each piece, exploring the symbolic meanings and technical mastery required to create such elaborate works. By synthesizing archaeological findings with early colonial accounts, the text offers a vivid window into the artistic heritage of Mexico prior to the Spanish conquest. This work remains a foundational text for students of Mesoamerican art history, archaeology, and indigenous material culture, preserving the legacy of the master carvers who shaped the cultural landscape of ancient Mexico.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.