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Maya Potters: Indigenous Knowledge, Cognition, Engagement, and Practice

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Maya Potters' Indigenous Knowledge: Cognition, Engagement, and Practice

by Dean E. Arnold

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	22948 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	294 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

The Maya people of Mesoamerica have a long and rich tradition of pottery making. For centuries, Maya potters have created beautiful and functional vessels that have been used for a variety of purposes, from cooking and storage to ritual and ceremony. Maya pottery is also a valuable source of information about the Maya culture and their way of life.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the indigenous knowledge and practices of Maya potters. This book, Maya Potters: Indigenous Knowledge, Cognition, Engagement, and Practice, explores the cognitive and social processes involved in Maya pottery making. The book draws on ethnographic research conducted with Maya potters in the Maya Highlands of Guatemala. The research findings provide insights into the ways that Maya potters learn, remember, and transmit their knowledge and skills. The book also discusses the ways that Maya potters engage with their communities and the environment through their pottery making practices.

Indigenous Knowledge and Cognition

Indigenous knowledge is a body of knowledge that is unique to a particular culture or group of people. It is often based on generations of experience and observation, and it is passed down from one generation to the next through oral tradition, storytelling, and other forms of cultural transmission. Indigenous knowledge can include knowledge about the natural world, the human body, and the social world. It can also include knowledge about traditional crafts and technologies, such as pottery making.

Cognitive processes are the mental processes that are involved in thinking, learning, and remembering. These processes include attention, perception, memory, and language. Cognitive processes are influenced by a variety of factors, including culture, environment, and experience. The study of cognition in indigenous communities can provide insights into the ways that people learn and think about the world around them.

Maya Pottery Making

Maya pottery making is a complex and skilled craft. Maya potters use a variety of techniques to create their vessels, including hand-building, wheel-throwing, and molding. They also use a variety of natural materials, such as clay, sand, and water. Maya pottery is often decorated with intricate designs that are inspired by the natural world and Maya culture.

Maya potters learn their craft through a process of apprenticeship. They begin by observing and helping more experienced potters. As they gain experience, they are gradually given more responsibility. The learning process can take many years, and it is not uncommon for Maya potters to continue to learn and develop their skills throughout their lives.

Engagement and Practice

Maya pottery making is not just a craft. It is also a social and cultural practice. Maya potters are often involved in their communities, and their pottery making is a way for them to connect with others and express their cultural identity. Maya potters also use their pottery to engage with the environment. They collect clay and other natural materials from the surrounding environment, and they use their pottery to create vessels that are used to store and transport food and water. Maya pottery is thus a vital part of Maya culture and way of life.

Maya Potters: Indigenous Knowledge, Cognition, Engagement, and Practice is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in Maya culture, indigenous knowledge, or the cognitive and social processes involved in traditional crafts. The book provides a unique perspective on the ways that Maya potters learn, remember, and transmit their knowledge and skills. It also discusses the ways that Maya potters engage with their communities and the environment through their pottery making practices. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about Maya culture and the indigenous knowledge and practices that are still alive today.

Maya Potters' Indigenous Knowledge: Cognition, Engagement, and Practice

by Dean E. Arnold

4 out of 5