Home Region: Mexico (North America)

Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico

100 BCE 99 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 mx_basin_of_mexico_6 / MxFormT

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

400 BCE 101 BCE Late Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_5) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

General Description

The Basin or Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly corresponding to modern-day Mexico City. Here, we are interested in the phase of its prehistory known as the Terminal Formative period (c. 100 BCE-99 CE). The most notable aspect of this period is the emergence of Teotihuacan as the largest and most populous city in the New World: by 150 CE, it had a population ranging between 60,000 to 80,000 inhabitants distributed across an area of about 20 kilometers. ^[1]
Political power was inherently theocratic; ^[2] ^[3] ^[4] beyond that, the exact administrative mechanisms prevalent at the time remain unclear.

[1]: (Sugiyama 2005: 1) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/P56I2R2H

[2]: Barba de Piña Chán, Beatriz. (1980). Tlapacoya: Los Principios de la Teocracia en la Cuenca de Mexico. Biblioteca Enciclopedica del Estado de Mexico, p.13-42, 95-142.

[3]: Plunket, Patricia and Gabriela Uruñuela. (2012). "Where East Meets West: The Formative in Mexico’s Central Highlands." Journal of Archaeological 20(1): 1-51

[4]: Carballo, David M. (2016). Urbanization and Religion in Ancient Central Mexico. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.73-215.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

2 Linguistic Family

1 Language Genus

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

2 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

1 Other Special Purpose Site

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6) was in:
(100 BCE 99 CE)	Basin of Mexico

Home NGA: Basin of Mexico

General Variables

Identity and Location Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	14 Q Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Original Name	Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Alternative Name	NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Temporal Bounds Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[100 BCE ➜ 99 CE] Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	unknown [---] Suspected Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Central Highland Mesoamerican Late-Terminal Formative Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Succeeding Entity	MxClass Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	40,000 km² Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Preceding Entity 400 BCE 101 BCE	Late Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_5) [continuity] Expert
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Language Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Otomanguean Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Linguistic Family	Mixe-Zoquean Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Language Genus	uncoded Undecided Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Language	unknown Suspected Expert	100 BCE 99 CE
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Religion Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	20,000 people	100 BCE 1 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement	[40,000 to 60,000] people	0 CE 99 CE
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Polity Territory	- Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Polity Population	- Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[3 to 4]	100 BCE 99 CE
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Religious Level	2	100 BCE 99 CE
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Military Level	- Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Administrative Level	- Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Professions Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Law Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Judge	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Court	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Food Storage Site	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Port	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Canal	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Other Special Purpose Site	Uncoded Undecided	100 BCE 99 CE
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Information / Writing System Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Script	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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History	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Fiction	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Calendar	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Information / Money Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Precious Metal	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Article	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Information / Postal System Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Information / Measurement System Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Earth Rampart	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Long Wall	absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Military use of Metals Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Iron	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Copper	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Bronze	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Projectiles Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Sling	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Self Bow	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Javelin	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Atlatl	Present Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Handheld weapons Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Sword	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Spear	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Polearm	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Dagger	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Battle Axe	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Animals used in warfare Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Elephant	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Donkey	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Dog	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Camel	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Armor Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Shield	Present	100 BCE 99 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Leather Cloth	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Helmet	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	100 BCE 99 CE
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Breastplate	Absent Inferred	100 BCE 99 CE
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Naval technology Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	100 BCE 99 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Disputed	100 BCE 99 CE
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Human Sacrifice Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More