Archaeology, Wage Labor, and Kinship in Rural Mexico, 1934–1974

State-run archaeology at El Tajín provided Indigenous Totonac workers with unprecedented opportunities for income and social mobility during the 20th century, despite broader trends of dispossession. Analysis of governmental payroll records from 1934 to 1974 reveals that wage labor in archaeology offered regular cash income and skill development, countering the decline of traditional agriculture. However, access to these opportunities was uneven, dependent on intermediaries and kinship networks, which reinforced socioeconomic stratification. The study underscores the dual role of state archaeology—both as an economic lifeline for rural communities and a reflection of broader regional dynamics.

Holley-Kline, S. (2022). Archaeology, Wage Labor, and Kinship in Rural Mexico, 1934–1974. Ethnohistory, 69(2), 197–221. https://doi.org/10.1215/00141801-9522189