Home Region: Mexico (North America)

Early Monte Alban I

500 BCE 300 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 mx_monte_alban_1_early / MxAlb1E

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

700 BCE 500 BCE Oaxaca - Rosario (mx_rosario) [population replacement]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

300 BCE 100 BCE Monte Alban Late I (mx_monte_alban_1_late) [continuity]

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General Description

The Monte Albán Early I phase runs from 500 to 300 BCE. The settlement at Monte Albán was founded at the beginning of this period and located in what was previously a ’buffer zone’ between the three competing chiefdoms in the Valley of Oaxaca during the Rosario phase. It was built on a hill 400 metres above the valley floor, ^[1] with limited access to farmland and water, ^[2] which suggests other reasons for the founding of the settlement. One suggestion is that the location was intentionally chosen in the ’neutral’ zone between the three competing chiefdoms as a political manoeuvre. ^[3]
Population and political organization
The establishment of a confederation (although not yet a state) at the beginning of this period is suggested by the simultaneous abandonment of settlements and founding of Monte Albán, which itself was internally divided into different groupings of people (as shown by distinct pottery assemblages). ^[3]
Although there is evidence for the presence of inherited social status and mortuary and residential elaboration during this period, the method of political organization is still unclear. ^[4] Archaeologist Arthur Joyce outlines possible power dynamics: ’The authority of the nobility may have been simultaneously couched in, but in dynamic tension with, traditional forms of authority that were more communal, egalitarian, and locally based.’ ^[4]
There is a large range of population estimates for the valley during this period, from roughly 8000 to 15,000. ^[5] ^[6] Monte Albán was the largest settlement in the Valley of Oaxaca during this period, although it was founded in a previously unoccupied location. The settlement began with around 2,000 people ^[5] and increased to over 5,000 towards the end of this period. ^[7] Much of the population of the valley moved to the newly founded settlement, which left sites such as San José Mogote abandoned. ^[8] Monte Albán became the largest settlement by far (324 ha in size towards the end of this period), but there were two other main settlements in the other arms of the valley (Yegüih and San Martin Tilcajete, the latter covering 52.8 ha by the end of the period). ^[8]

[1]: (Flannery and Marcus 1976, 375) Kent V. Flannery and Joyce Marcus. 1976. ’Formative Oaxaca and the Zapotec Cosmos’. American Scientist 64 (4): 374-83.

[2]: (Marcus and Flannery 1983, 81) Joyce Marcus and Kent V. Flannery. 1983. ’The Origins of the State in Oaxaca: Editors’ Introduction’, in The Cloud People: Divergent Evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations, edited by Joyce Marcus and Kent V. Flannery, 79-83. New York: Academic Press.

[3]: (Blanton 1983, 84) Richard E. Blanton. 1983. ’The Founding of Monte Albán’, in The Cloud People: Divergent Evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations, edited by Joyce Marcus and Kent V. Flannery, 83-87. New York: Academic Press.

[4]: (Joyce 2009, 141-42) Arthur A. Joyce. 2009. Mixtecs, Zapotecs, and Chatinos: Ancient Peoples of Southern Mexico. Malden, MA: Wiley‐Blackwell.

[5]: (Flannery and Marcus 2003, 11804) Kent V. Flannery and Joyce Marcus. 2003. ’The Origin of War: New C-14 Dates from Ancient Mexico’. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100 (20): 11801-05.

[6]: (Feinman et al. 1985, 346) Gary M. Feinman, Stephen A. Kowalewski, Laura Finsten, Richard E. Blanton and Linda Nicholas. 1985. ’Long-Term Demographic Change: A Perspective from the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico’. Journal of Field Archaeology 12 (3): 333-62.

[7]: (Marcus and Flannery 1996, 139) Joyce Marcus and Kent V. Flannery. 1996. Zapotec Civilization: How Urban Society Evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. London: Thames and Hudson.

[8]: (Spencer and Redmond 2004, 176) Charles S. Spencer and Elsa M. Redmond. 2004. ’Primary State Formation in Mesoamerica’. Annual Review of Anthropology 33: 173-99.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

3 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

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

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

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

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

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 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

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	Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early) was in:
(500 BCE 301 BCE)	Valley of Oaxaca

Home NGA: Valley of Oaxaca

General Variables

Identity and Location Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	14 Q	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Original Name	Early Monte Alban I	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Capital	Monte Albán	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Alternative Name	Middle Preclassic	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Alternative Name	Middle Formative	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Alternative Name	Monte Albán 1a (and 1b)	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[500 BCE ➜ 300 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	unknown [---] Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	MxAlb1L	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	population migration	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Succeeding Entity 300 BCE 100 BCE	Monte Alban Late I (mx_monte_alban_1_late) [continuity]
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Preceding Entity 700 BCE 500 BCE	Oaxaca - Rosario (mx_rosario) [population replacement]
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Degree of Centralization	uncoded	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Language Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Otomanguean	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Language	Zapotec	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Religion Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	2,000 people	500 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement	5,280 people	400 BCE 300 BCE
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Polity Territory	1,300 km²	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Polity Population	[10,000 to 20,000] people	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[2 to 3]	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Religious Level	1	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Military Level	1	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Administrative Level	- Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Professions Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Examination System	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Law Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Judge	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Court	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Irrigation System	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Uncoded Undecided	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Port	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Canal	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Bridge	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Writing System Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Script	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Sacred Text	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Religious Literature	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Practical Literature	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Philosophy	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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History	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Fiction	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Calendar	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Money Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Precious Metal	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Article	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Postal System Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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General Postal Service	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Courier	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moat	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Ditch	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Military use of Metals Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Iron	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Copper	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Bronze	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Projectiles Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Sling	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Self Bow	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Javelin	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Composite Bow	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Atlatl	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Handheld weapons Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Sword	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Spear	Present Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Polearm	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Dagger	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Battle Axe	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Elephant	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Donkey	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Dog	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Camel	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Armor Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Shield	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Plate Armor	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Helmet	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Chainmail	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Naval technology Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Early Monte Alban I (mx_monte_alban_1_early)

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