Ancient Tollan: Tula and the Toltec Heartland (review)

This book is the newest addition to the University Press of Colorado series "Mesoamerican Worlds." This particular work focuses on what the authors characterize as "Mesoamerica's problem city," Tula, Hidalgo. Along with Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan, Tula is by far the most famous of pre-Columbian urban areas. Nevertheless, because of its important role in later myth and legend, archeologists and historians had much to study. Based on both extensive archeological and archival research, this book seeks to establish a consensus view of the ancient city and its influence on pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The ten chapters each focus on some important theme in the larger study of ancient Tula. These range from a description of the relationship of Tula to the larger Tula Region Project, a physical geography of the area, study of the chronology and periodization of the region, analysis of the occupants of the city in the classic, epiclassic, and post-classic periods, study of the city and its hinterland in the post-classic period, the relationship of the city to its hinterland, and the settlement of that hinterland. In short it is a comprehensive and well documented study of this important city. The book is extensively illustrated with maps, charts, graphs, photos and line drawings. It is an important contribution to the growing literature on Tula, and is a solid compilation of what is known about the city at this time.