Research: Guides: Courses

Course Guide: Pre-Columbian Art (ARHS 370-01 / 770-01)

Fall 2007 Prof. Maya Stanfield-Mazzi

This guide supports the research needs of students studying Pre-Columbian Art at Tulane University. For additional research assistance, contact:

Sean Knowlton, Reference Librarian & Bibliographer
Sean@Tulane.edu
504-247-1870

Overview of Today's Session

• Developing a Research Strategy
• Reference Tools for Pre-Columbian Art
• Searching Tulane University Libraries Catalog and WorldCat using Subject Headings
• Interlibrary Loan: ILLiad
• Using Databases & Web Portals to identify Critical Research
• Independent, guided research

 

Developing A Research Strategy

Consult multiple sources on the same topic – reference works, web portals, library catalogs, bibliographies, works cited, article databases

Approach your research systematically and scientifically – Create a working list of keywords and relevant Subject Headings

Consider using a bibliographic management tool, like RefWorks

Consult with a librarian

Reference Tools for Pre-Columbian Art

General Art Reference

Grove Art Online [Off Campus? Log in to access Tulane Subscription Databases]

Specialized Reference

Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encyclopedia

New York: Garland, 2001. One-volume encylopedia includes more than 500 articles with basic information about the ancient past of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, focusing on the cultures of the Mayas and related native peoples prior to contact with European culture. The articles focus on archaeological sites and cultural topics.
Latin American Library Reference Desk
F1218.6.A73 2001

Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture

New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1996.
Five-volume work contains nearly 5,300 biographical, geographical, and thematic entries, each one signed by the author. Each entry includes suggestions for further reading.
Latin American Library Reference Desk
F1406.E53 1996

Encyclopedia of Latin American & Caribbean Art
N6502.E53 2000
Latin American Library Reference

Handbook to life in the Aztec world
F1219.73.A35 2006
Howard-Tilton Latin American Library

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures : the Civilizations of Mexico and Central America
3 Volumes
F1218.6.O95 2001
Latin American Library Reference

Bibliographies

The Art of Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica: an Annotated Bibliography
Z1209.2.M4B47 1985
Howard-Tilton Latin American Library

The Art and Archaeology of Pre-Columbian Middle America : an Annotated Bibliography of Works in English
Z1208.M4 K45 (1977)
Latin American Library

Introduccion a una Bibliografia General de la Arqueologia del Peru, 1860-1988 / Rogger Ravines.
Lima : Editorial Los Pinos E.I.R.L., 1989.
Latin American Library
Z1208.P4 R38 1989

 

Keywords

Before you begin your search, break your topic down into several discrete concepts or keyword search terms. Databases, including the library catalog, will be able to retrieve more relevant materials this way. For more flexible searching, think of various ways to express these search terms -- synonyms, broader terms, and narrower terms.

Then, think about what kind of information resources you need and select appropriate indexes and databases in which to search for material. This step is crucial to efficient identification of quality sources for your research.

Subject Headings for Art History

Possible Subject Headings for your topic
People Aztecs Aztecs -- First Contact with Europeans Aztecs -- Government Relations Aztecs -- Kings and Rulers Aztecs -- Politics and Government Aztecs -- Religion Aztec art Aztec gods Aztec astrology Aztec calendar Aztec calendar stone Aztec cosmology Mochica Indians Mochica art Mochica painting Mochica pottery	Art Material by Group Indian pottery -- Peru Pottery -- Ancient -- Andes Pottery -- Andes Region Topic / Theme Aztecs -- History Rites and ceremonies Sex in art Violence Violence in art Wars Indians of South America -- Art Indians of Mexico -- Art   Using Subject Headings in Keyword Searches Aztec? religion? Mochica? OR Moche?

 

Searching

Tulane University Libraries Catalog

WorldCat

A catalog of over 10,000 OCLC-member libraries worldwide. Tulane affiliates may request items identified in this datbase through interlibrary loan. [Off Campus? Log in to access Tulane Subscription Databases]

Interlibrary Loan : Tulane University ILLiad

Log in to request titles you've identified but are not held at Tulane University in print or digital format. First time users need to set up there account first. Follow the link on the logon screen. [Tulane Patrons Only]

Databases & Web Portals

Selected Art History Tools (More) ARTstor Collection of images from various sources such as museums, archaeological teams, photo archives, slide collections, and art reference publishers. [Off Campus? Log in to access Tulane Subscription Databases] Art Abstracts (1984- present) Art Abstracts provides comprehensive indexing and abstracts for more than 450 international art publications, including periodicals, yearbooks, and museum bulletins. Art Abstracts' international coverage encompasses periodicals published in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, focused on a broad range of art topics, including advertising, archaeology, crafts, folk art, graphic arts, interior design, video, film, architecture and art history. Indexing spans from 1984 to the present. [Off Campus? Log in to access Tulane Subscription Databases] Precolumbian Art Research Institute Finding Dissertations

 

Selected Antropology Tools (More) Anthropology Plus Anthropology Plus is a focused index of bibliographic materials from the late 1800s to today in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, and interdisciplinary studies. Coverage: 19th century to present. [Off Campus? Log in to access Tulane Subscription Databases] Bibliografía Mesoamericana (FAMSI) Index of citations related to the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica. Subject areas include archaeology, ethnography, ethnohistory, art history, linguistics, physical anthropology, and other related disciplines.

 

Selected Latin America Area Studies Tools (More) HAPI Online (Hispanic American Periodical Index) HAPI offers authoritative information about Latin America, the US-Mexico border region, and Hispanics in the US. From analyses of current political, economic, and social issues to coverage of Latin American arts and letters, HAPI Online contains complete bibliographic citations to articles, book reviews, documents, original literary works, and other materials appearing in social science and humanities journals published throughout the world. Coverage: 1970 - present. [Off Campus? Log in to access Tulane Subscription Databases] Handbook of Latin American Studies A bibliography on Latin America consisting of works selected and annotated by scholars. Alternates annually between the social sciences and the humanities. Edited by the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress. HLAS Online (1936 - present) HLAS Web (1990 - present) Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC) (University of Texas at Austin)