This present volume is the result of a study extending over the last twenty years. For this reason, I am unable to remember all who contributed to the final product. However, that being the case, I would like to thank every student who attended the annual spring break Mixtec Writing Seminars at the University of Texas at Austin. This gratitude is an accumulation of twelve consecutive years. Thanks to the graduate students, undergraduates, professors, and laypersons who took my courses there, as well as the undergraduate and graduate students who took my Prehispanic Mixtec History course at Texas State University–San Marcos. All taught me very much, and the interactions between us made me a better scholar and a better person as well.
Among my outstanding professors, whose knowledge and expertise advanced my abilities and interests, are Doctors James Neeley, Thomas Hester, James Denbow, Linda Schele, David Stuart, Martha Menchaca, Brian Stross, Fred Valdez, Julia Guernsey, F. Kent Reilly III, James Garber, Elizabeth Erhart, Richard Warms, John McGee, and John M. D. Pohl. Among colleagues past, I am especially grateful to Heather Orr, Timothy Albright, and Rex Koontz. My colleague at Texas State–San Marcos deserves special thanks for preparing the images for this book: therefore, Johann Sawyer, please understand how very grateful I am for your expertise. My constant friend, who listened always to my kvetching and offered support and advice, is David Schele. Words cannot convey my love, respect, and admiration of him.
Theresa May, assistant director and editor-in-chief of the University of Texas Press, deserves an award for editorial omniscience, graciousness, expertise, and generosity. Kathryn Charles-Wilson at the British Museum Department of Sales as well as Gabriele Daublebsky at ADEVA (Graz, Austria) are the gracious ladies who picked through and translated my many e-mails requesting assistance and permissions into common sense and good form. Ladies, you can shred or delete those e-mails now.
Madge Simmons, an educator who has not ceased to foster education even after many years of retirement, deserves special acknowledgment for her kind efforts in my behalf. Without Ms. Simmons, this book could not have come to publication. Her nephew, Richard McCown, fed me and kept me oriented as to person, place, and time.
To all these good people, and even more erased from my memory by the passing of cruel time, I am especially grateful. I hope your encouragement, faith, and pedagogy have not been wasted on such a one as me.