Pok-Ta-Pok essays

Pok-Ta-Pok essays The Maya called it Pok-ta-pok. The Aztec called it Tlachtli. In Puerto Rico it was called Batey. Though may cultures had it, and although they called it different things it was still the ball game. It is difficult to tell exactly what the Mesoamerican ball game was. Of course it was a game played with a rubber ball that weighed any where from six to ten pounds. The object of the game was to score points, more points than your opponent. The players had to bounce the ball to the place to score points, which varied at the different courts, however the catch to this was that they could not use their hands or feet. "No other prehistoric sporting event has received as much attention or has been the subject of so much controversy, but no other game has been so well represented in the archaeological record." (Blanchard, 99) The origin of this game is not easily determined, and has caused as much controversy. Franz Blom, an archaeologist has argued that the ball game originated with the Maya. "The game which played so great a role in the life of the Middle American peoples was of Maya origin." (Blom, 487) The evidence for Blom's claim comes from the Maya ball courts dating back to the Classic period. Other evidence, mainly figurines, point to the Preclassic period. "While no ball courts are known for this period, it nevertheless is certain that the ball game was played, for many figurines show players with the protection for the hand and knee required for that sport." (Coe-Mexico:Olmec, 49) Another archaeologist, Michael Coe, argues that the ball game dates back to the Olmec period. "Early ball playing figurines have been found at many Olmec sites. Coe suggests that the helmet like headpieces of the colossal Olmec carved heads may be ball game head gear, evidence that the Olmec people may have been pl aying the game over three thousand years ago." (Blanchard, 100) There are even a few people who believe that the ball game orig...