Past is Present: The Production and Consumption of Archaeological Legacies in Mexico

The material expressions of the powerful symbols and cultural traditions of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations have long played vital roles in constructing social and political discourses, collective identities, and worldviews in the Mexican present. In this chapter, we provide the theoretical background for this volume, highlighting the early history of archaeological representation and patrimony in Mexico prior to the 20th century and situating these studies within the current phase of anthropological research in the related areas of public archaeology, heritage studies, and community (engaged) archaeology.