'This work will surely appeal to all scholars of ancient Mesoamerica and the American hemisphere, whether academic interpreters of the broader topics addressed, or lab technicians and field archaeologists seeking answers and models for how best to advance the science of social violence and the ideology and political underpinnings of warfare.' Professor Emeritus Rubén G. Mendoza, California State University Monterey Bay 'This is a significant contribution to the field of ritual violence in the past, with a specific focus on Mesoamerica as a broad geographic cultural region. I love the collection of chapters with distinct approaches to individual topics contributing to the broader conversation. This volume contributes to the variable ways in which ritual violence can be inferred from archaeological contexts, utilizing a range of lines of evidence and corroborating sources.' Dr. J. Marla Toyne, University of Central Florida 'This volume is well organized, illustrated and methodologically demonstrated. I would have it in my collection and recommend to my students.' Associate Professor-in-Residence Lisa M. Johnson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas