En esta obra se abarca de manera amplia los diversos tipos de caminos que construyeron los Mayas Antiguos, específicamente los caminos pavimentados conocidos como calzadas mayas o sacbeob. Como estudio de caso se analizan once sacbeob que se localizan en los sitios de Ichmul, San Felipe y Yo'okop, ubicados en el centro de la península de Yucatán. El libro se compone de una amplia investigación bibliográfica, complementada con datos obtenidos durante reconocimientos de superficie, mapas topográficos, excavaciones de pozos de prueba y excavaciones extensivas. Este trabajo plantea que las calzadas tuvieron funciones y significados específicos, las cuales se pueden conocer si se analiza a estas construcciones en conjunto con sus áreas de inicio/término y no de manera aislada. La interpretación se realiza desde una perspectiva basada en la semántica, además de que se emplean conceptos de la antropología simbólica y la teoría de la metáfora para realizar las conclusiones.

This work comprehensively examines the types of roads built by the Ancient Maya, with a specific focus on the paved roads known as Maya causeways, or sacbeob. As a case study, it analyses eleven sacbeob located at the sites of Ichmul, San Felipe and Yo'okop, in the centre of the Yucatan peninsula. The analysis draws upon impressive bibliographical research, complemented by survey data, maps, test pits and extensive excavations. The author proposes that roadways have specific functions and meanings, which can be understood if these constructions are analysed in conjunction with their termini, rather than in isolation. These conclusions are reached from a perspective based on semantics, as well as on concepts drawn from symbolic anthropology and metaphor theory.

AUTHOR
Alberto Flores Colin es arqueólogo egresado de la ENAH, en Ciudad de México. Ha colaborado en varios proyectos arqueológicos en el área maya y ha escrito diversos artículos. Actualmente está obteniendo su doctorado en la Universidad de Yucatán. En 2016, ganó el Premio INAH por su tesis de licenciatura.

Alberto Flores Colin is an archaeologist who graduated from the ENAH, in Mexico City. He has collaborated on various archaeological projects in Mesoamerica and has written several articles. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Yucatán. In 2016, his undergraduate thesis won the nationwide INAH Award.

REVIEWS
'Flores Colin’s book is exceptionally comprehensive. … What is new about this book is the very deep context in which he places the data and [his] systematic and compelling form of interpretation of what the causeways were for. … Flores Colin’s maps are the best thus far made with these data.’ Prof. Scott Hutson, University of Kentucky

‘The field data are superb and of great value to researchers not only studying causeways, but to those interested in the archaeology of Quintana Roo. The depth of the author’s analysis is excellent and his reaching out to look at broader concepts of roads brings new perspectives.’ Prof. Travis W. Stanton, University of California, Riverside