Extending its influence to more distant regions, it has long been recognised that this city, the scale and rigorous planning of which have never been equalled, was organised as a State.

However, and despite a century of research, specialists still do not agree on the nature and structure of power, with all manner of hypotheses being invoked (theocracy, monarchy, tetrarchy, collegial power, etc.). This symposium does not aim to resolve this problem, but rather to shed light on certain facets of this power in light of the ritual practices that are still evidenced in this city. These practices can be seen in a number of tangible forms such as urbanism, architecture, temple mounds and scenes of iconography. Many of these rituals involved, in all likelihood, close links to power, the nature of which remains a mystery to archaeologists.

Organisers 

The UMR 8096 "Archéologie des Amériques", the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac