Handbook of Middle American Indians

Handbook of Middle American Indians is a sixteen-volume compendium on Mesoamerica, from the prehispanic to late twentieth century. Volumes on particular topics were published from the 1960s and 1970s under the general editorship of Robert Wauchope. Separate volumes with particular volume editors deal with a number of general topics, including archeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, linguistics, with the last four substantive volumes treating various topics in Mesoamerican ethnohistory, under the editorship of Howard F. Cline. Select volumes have become available in e-book format.
A retrospective review of the HMAI by two anthropologists discusses its history and evaluates it. One review calls it a fundamental work. Another reviewer says "since the first volume of the HMAI appeared in 1964 is far and away the most comprehensive and erudite coverage of native cultures of any region in the Americas." A review in the journal Science says that "There can be little doubt that, like the Handbook of South American Indians, this monumental synthesis will provide a sound basis for new generalizations and will stimulate additional research to fill the gaps in knowledge and understanding that will become apparent.
Starting in 1981, six volumes in the Supplement to the Handbook of Middle American Indians were published under the general editorship of Victoria Bricker.

Volumes

Volume 1. Natural Environment and Early Cultures, Robert C. West, volume editor. (1964)

1. Geohistory and Paleogeography of Middle America
2. Surface Configuration and Associated Geology of Middle America
3. The Hydrography of Middle America
4. The American Mediterranean
5. Oceanography and Marine Life along the Pacific Coast
6. Weather and Climate of Mexico and Central America
7. Natural Vegetation of Middle America
8. The Soils of Middle America and their Relation to Indian Peoples and Cultures
9. Fauna of Middle America
10. The Natural Regions of Middle America
11. The Primitive Hunters
12. The Food-gathering and Incipient Agriculture Stage of Prehistoric Middle America
13. Origins of Agriculture in Middle America
14. The Patterns of Farming Life and Civilization

Volumes 2–3. Archeology of Southern Mesoamerica, Gordon R. Willey, volume editor. (1965)

Volume 2

1. Archaeological Synthesis of the Guatemalan Highlands
2. Settlement Patterns of the Guatemalan Highlands
3. Architecture of the Guatemalan Highlands
4. Pottery of the Guatemalan Highlands
5. Preclassic Pottery Figurines of the Guatemalan Highlands
6. Classic and Postclassic Pottery Figurines of the Guatemalan Highlands
7. Artifacts of the Guatemalan Highlands
8. Archeological Survey of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala
9. Archaeological Survey of the Chiapas Coast, Highlands, and Upper Grijalva Basin
10. Sculpture of the Guatemala-Chiapas Highlands and Pacific Slopes, and Associated Hieroglyphs
11. Summary of Preconquest Ethnology of the Guatemala-Chiapas Highlands and Pacific Slopes
12. Archaeology and Prehistory in the Northern Maya Lowlands: an Introduction
13. Archaeological Synthesis of the Southern Maya Lowlands
14. Prehistoric Settlement Patterns in the Maya Lowlands
15. Architecture of the Maya Lowlands
16. Tombs and Funerary Practices of the Maya Lowlands
17. Caches and Offertory Practices of the Maya Lowlands
18. Sculpture and Major Arts of the Maya Lowlands
19. Pottery of the Maya Lowlands
20. Pottery Figurines of the Maya Lowlands

Volume 3

21. Jades of the Maya Lowlands
22. Garments and Textiles of the Maya Lowlands
23. Artifacts of the Maya Lowlands
24. Calendrics of the Maya Lowlands
25. Maya Hieroglyphic Writing
26. Lowland Maya Native Society at Spanish Contact
27. Archaeological Synthesis of Southern Veracruz and Tabasco
28. Monumental Sculpture of Southern Veracruz and Tabasco
29. The Olmec Style and its Distribution
30. The Olmec Region at Spanish Contact
31. Archaeological Synthesis of Oaxaca
32. Preclassic and Classic Architecture of Oaxaca
33. Architecture in Oaxaca after the End of Monte Alban
34. Sculpture and Mural Painting of Oaxaca
35. Ceramics of Oaxaca
36. Lapidary Work, Goldwork, and Copperwork from Oaxaca
37. Zapotec Writing and Calendar
38. Mixtec Writing and Calendar
39. The Zapotec and Mixtec at Spanish Contact

Volume 4. Archeological Frontiers and External Connections, G.F. Ekholm and G. R. Willey, volume editors. (1964)

1. Archaeology and Ethnohistory of the Northern Sierra
2. Archaeology of Sonora, Mexico
3. Archaeology and Ethnohistory of Lower California
4. Archaic Cultures Adjacent to the Northeastern Frontiers of Mesoamerica
5. Mesoamerica and the Southwestern United States
6. Mesoamerica and the Eastern United States in Prehistoric Times
7. Archaeological Survey of El Salvador
8. Archaeological Survey of Western Honduras
9. Archaeology of Lower Central America
10. Synthesis of Lower Central American Ethnohistory
11. Mesoamerica and the Eastern Caribbean Area
12. Mesoamerica and Ecuador
13. Relationships between Mesoamerica and the Andean Areas
14. The Problem of Transpacific Influences in Mesoamerica
15. The Role of Transpacific Contacts in the Development of New World Pre-Columbian Civilizations

Volume 5. Linguistics, Norman A. McQuown, volume editor. (1968)

1. History of Studies in Middle American Linguistics
2. Inventory of Descriptive Materials
3. Inventory of Classificatory Materials
4. Lexicostatistic Classification
5. Systemic Comparison and Reconstruction
6. Environmental Correlational Studies
7. Type Linguistics Descriptions
A. Classical Nahuatl
B. Classical Yucatec
C. Classical Quiche
D. Sierra Popoluca
E. Isthmus Zapotec
F. Huautla de Jimenez Mazatec
G. Jiliapan Pame
H. Huamelultec Chontal
8. Language-in-Culture Studies

Volume 6. Social Anthropology, Manning Nash, volume editor. (1967)

1. Introduction, Manning Nash
2. Indian Population and its Identification, Anselmo Marino Flores
3. Agricultural Systems and Food Patterns, Angel Palerm
4. Settlement Patterns, William T. Sanders
5. Indian Economies, Manning Nash
6. Contemporary Pottery and Basketry, George M. Foster
7. Laquer, Katharine D. Jenkins
8. Textiles and Costume, A.H. Gayton
9. Drama, Dance and Music, Gertrude Prokosch Kurath
10. Play: Games, Gossip, and Humor
11. Kinship and Family, A. Kimball Romney
12. Compadrinazgo, Robert Ravicz
13. Local and Territoria Units, Eva Hunt and June Nash
14. Political and Religious Organizations, Frank Cancian
15. Levels of Communal Relations, Eric R. Wolf
16. Annual Cycle and Fiesta Cycle, Ruben E. Reina
17. Sickness and Social Relations, Richard N. Adams and Arthur J. Rubel
18. Narrative Folklore, Munro S. Edmonson
19. Religious Syncretism, William Madsen
20. Ritual and Mythology, E. Michael Mendelson
21. Psychological Orientations, Benjamin N. Colby
22. Ethnic Relationships, Julio de la Fuente
23. Acculturation, Ralph L. Beals
24. Nationalization, Richard N. Adams
25. Directed Change, Robert H. Ewald
26. Urbanization and Industrialization, Arden R. King

Volumes 7–8, Ethnology, Evon Z. Vogt, volume editor. (1969)

Volume 7. Introduction
;Section I: The Maya

2. The Maya: Introduction
3. Guatemalan Highlands
4. The Maya of Northwestern Guatemala
5. The Maya of the Midwestern Highlands
6. Eastern Guatemalan Highlands: The Pokomames and Chorti
7. Chiapas Highlands
8. The Tzotzil
9. The Tzeltal
10. The Tojolabal
11. Maya Lowlands: The Chontal, Chol, and Kekchi
12. The Maya of Yucatán
13. The Lacandon
14. The Huastec

;Section II: Southern Mexican Highlands and Adjacent Coastal Regions

15. Southern Mexican Highlands and Adjacent Coastal Regions: Introduction
16. The Zapotec of Oaxaca
17. The Chatino
18. The Mixtec
19. The Trique of Oaxaca
20. The Amuzgo
21. The Cuicatec
22. The Mixe, Zoque, and Popoluca
23. The Huave
24. The Popoloca
25. The Ichcatec
26. The Chocho
27. The Mazatec
28. The Chinantec
29. The Tequistlatec and Tlapanec
30. The Cuitlatec

Volume 8, Section III: Central Mexican Highlands

31. Central Mexican Highlands: Introduction
32. The Nahua
33. The Totonac
34. The Otomi

;Section IV: Western Mexico

35. The Tarascans

;Section V: Northwest Mexico

36. Northwest Mexico: Introduction
37. The Huichol and Cora
38. The Southern Tepehuan and Tepecano
39. The Northern Tepehuan
40. The Yaqui and Mayo
41. The Tarahumara
42. Contemporary Ethnography of Baja California, Mexico
43. Remnant Tribes of Sonora: Opata, Pima, Papago, and Seri.

Volumes 6 & 7 were reviewed when the appeared. One reviewer highlights several articles, including those by Eric R. Wolf, Angel Palerm, and Willilam Sanders, but he goes on to say "These volumes are... more valuable for reference than for reading. Sections dealing with distribution, history, and bibliography are very useful, but sections dealing with social structure or the character of the peoples generally fail to provide integrated analyses indicating the essential features."

Volume 10–11. Archeology of Northern Mesoamerica, G. F. Ekholm and [Ignacio Bernal], volume editors. (1971)

Volume 10

1. "Settlement Patterns in Central Mexico", William T. Sanders
2. "Pre-Columbian Architecture of Central Mexico", Carlos R. Margain
3. "Major Sculpture in Pre-Hispanic Central Mexico", Henry B. Nicholson
4. "Mural Painting in Central Mexico", Agustín Villagra Caleti
5. "Preclassic or Formative Pottery and Minor Arts of the Valley of Mexico", Román Piña Chan
6. "Ceramics of the Classic Period in Central Mexico", Carmen Cook de Leonard
7. "Minor Arts of the Classic Period in Central Mexico", Carmen Cook de Leonard
8. "Postclassic Pottery of the Central Valleys", Robert E. Lee Chadwick
9. "Minor Arts in the Central Valleys", Eduardo Noguera
10. "Utilitarian Artifacts of Central Mexico", Paul Tolstoy
11. "Basketry and Textiles", Irmgard Weitlaner Johnson
12. "Writing in Central Mexico", Charles E. Dibble
13. "Calendrical Systems of Central Mexico", Alfonso Caso
14. "Social Organization of Ancient Mexico", Pedro Carrasco
15. "Structure of the Aztec Empire", Charles Gibson
16. "Religion in Pre-Hispanic Central Mexico", Henry B. Nicholson
17. "Philosophy in Ancient Mexico", Miguel León-Portilla
18. "Pre-Hispanic Literature", Miguel León-Portilla

Volume 11

19. "The Peoples of Central Mexico and Their Historical Traditions", Pedro Carrasco
20. "Native Pre-Aztec History of Central Mexico", Robert E. Lee Chadwick
21. "Archaeology of Central Veracruz", José García Payón
22. "Cultural Ecology and Settlement Patterns of the Gulf Coast", William T. Sanders
23. "Classic Art of Central Veracruz", Tatiana Proskouriakoff
24. "Archaeological Synthesis of the Sierra", Richard S. MacNeish
25. "Ancient Sources on the Huasteca", Guy Stresser-Péan
26. "Ethnohistory of Guerrero", Herbert R. Harvey
27. "Archaeological Synthesis of Guerrero", Robert H. Lister
28. "Ethnohistoric Synthesis of Western Mexico", Donald D. Brand
29. "Archaeological Synthesis of Michoacan and Adjacent Regions", Robert E. Lee Chadwick
30. "Archaeology of Nayarit, Jalisco, and Colima", Betty Bell
31. "Archaeology of Sinaloa", Clement W. Meighan
32. "Archaeology of the Northern Frontier: Zacatecas and Durango", J. Charles Kelley

Supplement to the Handbook of Middle American Indians

General Editor, Victoria Bricker

Volume 1. Archaeology, Jeremy A. Sabloff, volume editor.
Volume 2. Linguistics with the assistance of Patricia A. Andrews
Volume 3. Literatures, Munro S. Edmunson, volume editor.
Volume 4. Ethnohistory, Ronald Spores, volume editor
* 1. Introduction
* 2. Classic Maya Dynastic Alliance and Succession
* 3. Prehispanic Background of Colonial Political and Economic Organization in Central Mexico
* 4. Ethnohistory of the Guatemalan Colonial Indian
* 5. The Southern Maya Lowlands during Spanish Colonial Times
* 6. Indians in Colonial Northern Yucatan
* 7. Kinship and Social Organization in Early Colonial Tenochtitlan
* 8. Socioeconomic Dimensions of Urban-Rural Relations in the Colonial Period Basin of Mexico
* 9. One Hundred Years of Servitude: Tlamemes in Early New Spain
* 10. Techialoyan Codices: Seventeenth-Century Indian Land Titles in Central Mexico
* 11. Colonial Ethnohistory of Oaxaca
Volume 5. Epigraphy, Victoria Bricker
* 1. Introduction
* 2. The Zapotec Writing System
* 3. Mixtec Pictography: Conventions and Contents
* 4. The Annals of the Tlapanecs
* 5. Aztec Writing
* 6. Noun and Verb Morphology in the Maya Script
* 7. A New Look at the Dynastic History of Palenque
* 8. Classic Maya History and Politics at Dos Pilas, Guatemala
* 9. The Copan Dynasty
* 10. The Middle American Calendar Round
Volume 6. Ethnology, John D. Monaghan, volume editor
* 1. A Retrospective Look at the Ethnology Volumes of the Handbook of Middle American Indians

;Section I: Topical Syntheses

* 2. Mesoamerican Social Organization and Community after 1960
* 3. Theology and History in the Study of Mesoamerican Religions
* 4. Alternative Political Futures of Indigenous People in Mesoamerica

;Section II: Regional Syntheses

* 5. Otomían and Purépechan Cultures of Central Mexico
* 6. Contemporary Cultures of the Gulf Coast
* 7. Indigenous Peoples in Central and Western Mexico
* 8. Thirty Years of Oaxacan Ethnography
* 9. The Maya of Chiapas since 1965
* 10. The Yucatec Maya
* 11. Maya and Anthropologists in the Highlands of Guatemala since the 1960’s