Anthropologists, geologists, and other scholars explore how water was conceived, used, and represented in ancient Mesoamerica and what is now the US Southwest, and the mechanisms that were used to build upon the sacredness of water to enhance political authority. Among their case studies are formative period Central Mexico, classic Maya society, Mexico-Texcoco Lakes during the post-classic period, and the pre-columbian Southwest. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)