This paper delves into the history and cultural significance of weaving in the Maya culture, specifically as practiced by Mayan women in Guatemala across many generations. Through a description of the technical and artistic aspects of craft and its roots in Maya legends, the craft is discussed as a means by which Maya culture was preserved despite centuries of colonization and during periods of Guatemala’s history in which the government targeted Mayan communities for persecution if not outright elimination. The research shows how this practice has therefore, in its use of patterns that specifically identify the various Maya communities that create them, have historically served as acts of resistance to a problematic history.
