Historical Dictionary of Mesoamerica by Walter R. T. Witschey and Clifford T. Brown (review)
The market for dictionaries, handbooks, and guides to ancient Mesoamerica seems to be a busy one, since hardly a year goes by without another entry into the crowded marketplace. The latest entry is this historical dictionary, part of a series of similar works from Scarecrow Press, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield. This volume contains some 900 entries on important aspects of ancient Mesoamerica, from Acalan (Campeche) to Zempoala (Veracruz). It includes sites, civilizations, deities, themes (for example, medicine and flowers), and individuals, such as Pacal (ruler of Palenque). Unfortunately the title is a bit misleading, as the dictionary focuses significantly on the Maya with only passing entries for the other civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica.