Ancestor veneration in the Maya lowlands traditionally has been associated with divine kingship and royal genealogies. But in this revisionist study, Patricia McAnany challenges this view and presents a strong case for the Formative Period roots of ancestor veneration, suggesting that it is an ancient agrarian practice linked to the emergence or restrictive patterns of land tenure and unequal access to resources. Just as the decipherment of hieroglyphs has given voice to the political strategies of Classic Maya elites, so Living with the Ancestors gives voice to the agrarian strategies and political struggles of non-elite Maya. A first approach to a complete history of the Maya, it will be important reading for everyone interested in Mesoamerican culture.