One of the principal objectives of modern archaeology is to comprehend the cultural significance of the material vestiges of ancient societies. Interpretation of the art and architecture of past civilizations in South America, where written texts were not developed, depends on the identification of patterns of signs and symbols. These provide clues to coherent visual codes that may lead to the discovery and understanding of other ways of ordering the world. The archaeologist can recover only …

The art of ancient West Mexico has traditionally been treated in terms of a group of beautiful but enigmatic objects. Because of insufficient knowledge, however, the various regional styles have generally been classified according to their geographical location. In spite of the unquestionable aesthetic quality inherent in these works, few specialists have attempted to trace the origins of their social, cultural, and symbolic functions, or of the societies that created this art. The lack of …