ABSTRACT
The saga of Mesoamerican archaeology is filled with dazzling tales of intrepid explorers, brilliant historians, dedicated anthropologists and bold archaeologists who broke the time barrier to reveal the story of ancient peoples. The archaeological record was their laboratory, a testing ground for facts and insights about olden times. Their discoveries were firmly anchored in a profound interest in the past as they relentlessly sought evidence of early behaviours in the mute testimony of bones, stones, potsherds, art and architecture. The success of their efforts is well illustrated by their great discoveries and, above all, by an exceptional comprehension of Mesoamerican archeology obtained from dedicated research.
