Ronald Spores
Encyclopedia
Ronald M. Spores is an American academic anthropologist, archaeologist and ethnohistorian, whose research career has centered on the pre-Columbian
cultures of Mesoamerica
. He is Professor Emeritus
of anthropology at Vanderbilt University
's College of Arts and Science
, where he has been a faculty member for over four decades. Spores is most renowned for his scholarship conducted on the cultural history of the Oaxaca
n region in southwestern Mexico
. In particular, he is considered a leading authority on the Mixtec
culture, with many contributions towards investigating its archaeological sites, ethnohistorical documents, political enconomies, and ethnohistory in both the pre-Columbian and Colonial eras. He is currently Director of the Proyecto Arqueológico de la Ciudad Yucundaa Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula, Oaxaca, sponsored by the Fundación Alfredo Harp Helu, the National Geographic Society, and INAH (2004–2010).
Spores obtained his undergraduate Bachelor of Science
degree from the University of Oregon
in 1953. His graduate studies were undertaken at the Universidad de las Américas
in Cholula, Mexico
, where he obtained an M.A.
in 1960. Spores continued graduate studies at Harvard
, where he completed a Master's thesis in 1963 and his doctorate
in anthropology in 1964.
authored books—
Spores, Ronald, 2007 Ñuu Ñudzahui. La Mixteca de Oaxaca. La Evolución de la Cultura Mixteca Desde los Primeros Pueblos Preclásicos hasta la Independencia. Oaxaca: Instituto Estatal de Educación Pública del Estado de Oaxaca.
Spores, Ronald, 1984 The Mixtecs in Ancient and Colonial Times. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. |location=Norman|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press
|oclc=484409}}
contributed chapters—
Spores, Ronald, 2008. "Excavations at Yucundaa, Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula," in Mixtec Writing and Society. Escritura de Ñuu Dzaui, ed. by Maarten Jansen and Laura van Broekhoven, pp. 253–285. Amsterdam: KNAW Press.
Spores, Ronald, and Nelly Robles García, 2007. "A Prehispanic (Postclassic) Capital Center in Colonial Transition: Excavations at Yucundaa Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula, Oaxaca, Mexico," Latin American Antiquity 18 (3), pp. 333–353.
Spores, Ronald and Nelly Robles García, 2008. "Investigaciones arqueológicas en Yucundaa, el Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula, Oaxaca," Arqueología, pp. 155–173.
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
cultures of Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
. He is Professor Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of anthropology at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
's College of Arts and Science
Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science
The College of Arts and Science is a liberal arts college at Vanderbilt University located in Nashville, Tennessee. The College confers the Bachelor of Arts degree on undergraduates, and, in conjunction with the Graduate School, the Master of Arts, Master of Science, and the Doctor of Philosophy...
, where he has been a faculty member for over four decades. Spores is most renowned for his scholarship conducted on the cultural history of the Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
n region in southwestern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In particular, he is considered a leading authority on the Mixtec
Mixtec
The Mixtec are indigenous Mesoamerican peoples inhabiting the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla in a region known as La Mixteca. The Mixtecan languages form an important branch of the Otomanguean language family....
culture, with many contributions towards investigating its archaeological sites, ethnohistorical documents, political enconomies, and ethnohistory in both the pre-Columbian and Colonial eras. He is currently Director of the Proyecto Arqueológico de la Ciudad Yucundaa Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula, Oaxaca, sponsored by the Fundación Alfredo Harp Helu, the National Geographic Society, and INAH (2004–2010).
Spores obtained his undergraduate Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1953. His graduate studies were undertaken at the Universidad de las Américas
Fundación Universidad de las Américas, Puebla
Universidad de las Américas Puebla , is a private university in Mexico. It is located in San Andrés Cholula, Puebla, a suburb of Puebla. The university is known for its programs in Arts and Humanities, Social sciences, Science and Engineering, and Business and Economics...
in Cholula, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where he obtained an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1960. Spores continued graduate studies at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he completed a Master's thesis in 1963 and his doctorate
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in anthropology in 1964.
Published works
Published works by Spores include:authored books—
Spores, Ronald, 2007 Ñuu Ñudzahui. La Mixteca de Oaxaca. La Evolución de la Cultura Mixteca Desde los Primeros Pueblos Preclásicos hasta la Independencia. Oaxaca: Instituto Estatal de Educación Pública del Estado de Oaxaca.
Spores, Ronald, 1984 The Mixtecs in Ancient and Colonial Times. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. |location=Norman|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press
University of Oklahoma Press
The University of Oklahoma Press is the publishing arm of the University of Oklahoma. It has been in operation for over seventy-five years, and was the first university press established in the American Southwest. It was founded by William Bennett Bizzell, the fifth president of the University of...
|oclc=484409}}
contributed chapters—
Spores, Ronald, 2008. "Excavations at Yucundaa, Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula," in Mixtec Writing and Society. Escritura de Ñuu Dzaui, ed. by Maarten Jansen and Laura van Broekhoven, pp. 253–285. Amsterdam: KNAW Press.
Spores, Ronald, and Nelly Robles García, 2007. "A Prehispanic (Postclassic) Capital Center in Colonial Transition: Excavations at Yucundaa Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula, Oaxaca, Mexico," Latin American Antiquity 18 (3), pp. 333–353.
Spores, Ronald and Nelly Robles García, 2008. "Investigaciones arqueológicas en Yucundaa, el Pueblo Viejo de Teposcolula, Oaxaca," Arqueología, pp. 155–173.