Periods in Mesoamerican history |
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The chronology of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica is usually divided into the following eras:
One of the most enduring classifications of archaeological periods & cultures was established in Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips' 1958 book Method and Theory in American Archaeology. They divided the archaeological record in the Americas into 5 phases. These are:
Paleo-Indian (10,000–3500 BCE) |
Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, obsidian and pyrite points, Iztapan | |||
Archaic (3500–1800 BCE) |
Agricultural settlements, Tehuacán | |||
Preclassic (Formative) (2000 BCE–250 CE) |
The start of states. The first large scale ceremonial architecture, development of cities.
(Olmecs; Unknown culture in La Blanca and Ujuxte, Monte Alto culture) |
Early Preclassic | Olmec area: San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan; Central Mexico: Chalcatzingo; Valley of Oaxaca: San José Mogote. The Maya area: Nakbe, Cerros | 2000–1000 BCE |
Middle Preclassic | Olmec area: La Venta, Tres Zapotes; Maya area: El Mirador, Izapa, Lamanai, Xunantunich, Naj Tunich, Takalik Abaj, Kaminaljuyú, Uaxactun; Valley of Oaxaca: Monte Albán | 1000–400 BCE | ||
Late Preclassic | Maya area: Uaxactun, Tikal, Edzná, Cival, San Bartolo, Altar de Sacrificios, Piedras Negras, Ceibal, Rio Azul; Central Mexico: Teotihuacan; Gulf Coast: Epi-Olmec culture | 400 BCE–200 CE | ||
Classic (200–900 CE) |
Height of the nation-states.
(Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan, Zapotecs) |
Early Classic | Maya area: Calakmul, Caracol, Chunchucmil, Copán, Naranjo, Palenque, Quiriguá, Tikal, Uaxactun, Yaxha; Teotihuacan apogee; Zapotec apogee. | 200–600 CE |
Late Classic | Maya area: Uxmal, Toniná, Cobá, Waka', Pusilhá, Xultún, Dos Pilas, Cancuen, Aguateca; Central Mexico: Xochicalco, Cacaxtla, Cholula; Gulf Coast: El Tajín and Classic Veracruz culture | 600–900 CE | ||
Terminal Classic | Maya area: Puuc sites – Uxmal, Labna, Sayil, Kabah | 800–900/1000 CE | ||
Postclassic (900–1519 CE) |
Collapse of many of the great nations and cities of the Classic Era. Formation of new kingdoms and empires.
( Aztec, Toltec, Purépecha, Mixtec, Totonac, Pipil, Itzá, Kowoj, K'iche', Kaqchikel, Poqomam, Mam) |
Early Postclassic | Tula, Mitla, Tulum, Topoxte, Chichen Itza | 900–1200 CE |
Late Postclassic | Tenochtitlan, Cempoala, Tzintzuntzan, Mayapán, Ti'ho, Utatlán, Iximche, Mixco Viejo, Zaculeu | 1200–1519 CE | ||
Post Conquest (Until 1697 CE) |
Central Peten: Tayasal, Zacpeten |