| Periods inMesoamerican history | ||||||||||||
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The chronology ofPre-ColumbianMesoamerica is usually divided into the following eras:
One of the most enduring classifications of archaeological periods & cultures was established inGordon Willey andPhilip Phillips' 1958 bookMethod and Theory in American Archaeology. They divided the archaeological record in the Americas into 5 phases. These are:
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| 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 inLa Blanca andUjuxte,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 andClassic 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 | |||
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