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An Unexplored Realm in the Heartland of the Southern Gulf ... - Famsi

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Preface<br />

The journey to this particular po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> my life has not been through <strong>the</strong> more<br />

traditional corridors <strong>of</strong> academia. After conclud<strong>in</strong>g a successful career <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />

world <strong>in</strong> 1995, I turned my attention to more personally agreeable matters. The study <strong>of</strong><br />

ancient and contemporary Mesoamerican peoples has <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly occupied my time and<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluenced my activities over <strong>the</strong> past 30 years. Dur<strong>in</strong>g this time, my level <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest and<br />

<strong>in</strong>quiry cont<strong>in</strong>ually <strong>in</strong>tensified, as did my personal enjoyment. The opportunity to visit,<br />

research, and appreciate Mesoamerica and its people is <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> encouragement,<br />

cooperation, and patience <strong>of</strong> my family, friends, and <strong>in</strong>numerable <strong>in</strong>dividuals who helped<br />

me along <strong>the</strong> way. I thank <strong>the</strong>m all.<br />

After a decade and a half <strong>of</strong> travel and exam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> all th<strong>in</strong>gs Maya, I<br />

journeyed <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> “Land <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Olmec.” Little did I know <strong>the</strong>n that this <strong>in</strong>cidental visit <strong>in</strong><br />

1991 would so pr<strong>of</strong>oundly impact my life, and that a series <strong>of</strong> improbable events would<br />

lead to my eventual return to university and ultimately to this dissertation. In Veracruz,<br />

Mexico, I had a chance encounter with María del Carmen Rodríguez. Her generosity and<br />

cooperation led to my friendship and collaboration with Ponciano Ortíz Ceballos. Dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

my work with <strong>the</strong>m, I had <strong>the</strong> good fortune to meet María de Lourdes Hernández. It is<br />

through Lourdes’ assistance, enthusiasm, and competence that <strong>the</strong> El Marquesillo Project<br />

became a reality. Muchísimas gracias.<br />

xvii

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