| Periods inNorth American prehistory | ||||||||||||
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Inarchaeological cultures of North America, theclassic stage is the theoretical North and Meso-American societies that existed between AD 500 and 1200. This stage is the fourth of five stages posited byGordon Willey andPhilip Phillips' 1958 bookMethod and Theory in American Archaeology.[1]
Cultures of the Classic Stage are supposed to possess craft specialization and the beginnings ofmetallurgy. Social organization is supposed to involve the beginnings ofurbanism and large ceremonial centers. Ideologically, Classic cultures should have a developedtheocracy.[2]
The "Classic Stage" was initially defined as restricted to the complex societies ofMesoamerica andPeru. However, the time period includes other advanced cultures, such asHopewell,Teotihuacan, and the earlyMaya.
The "Classic Stage" followed theFormative stage (Pre-Classic) and was superseded by thePost-Classic stage.[3] There are alternative classification systems, and this ranking would overlap what others classify as theWoodland period andMississippian cultures.
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