Abstract

LOPEZ CORRAL, Aurelio. Soil Glyphs from Early Colonial Acolhua Códices: a Re-Analysis of their Significance. Desacatos [online]. 2011, n.37, pp.145-162. ISSN 2448-5144.

This paper re-examines the "soil glyphs" from four Early Colonial Acolhua códices.These glyphs were drawn at the center of agricultural plots and have been linked to an indigenous land classificatory system. However, previously established glyph typologies display important morphological variations suggesting that different meanings have been grouped incorrectly. This study shows that, in addition to soils, the glyphs also registered other various land attributes. Thus, it would be more accurate to name them "parcel glyphs". The purpose of employing parcel glyphs was, probably, to avoid confusions in the identification of landholdings registered at different times and by different persons.

Keywords : parcel glyphs; Acolhua códices; Tepetlaoztoc; households; agriculture.

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