¿Qué tan comunal era realmente la tierra comunal? Dinámicas agrarias en San Miguel Totonicapán, Guatemala, 1744-1813

The article analyzes the dynamics surrounding land tenure in the highland Guatemalan town of San Miguel Totonicapán during the late colonial period. The main objective is to question the meaning of lands that have commonly been considered communal. In this regard, the research examines the configuration and particular characteristics of the town to show how communal land was understood, on the one hand, as a mechanism that allowed the community to close ranks in the name of the common good vis-à-vis external actors, especially authorities, and, on the other hand, as a set of local agreements that enabled transactions on an individual basis. To support this argument, the study analyzes not only land-related litigation but also buying and selling practices, which suggests the existence of a modest land market.