Home Region: Mexico (North America)

Monte Alban IIIB and IV

500 CE 900 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 mx_monte_alban_3_b_4 / MxAlb3B

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

200 CE 500 CE Monte Alban III (mx_monte_alban_3_a) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

900 CE 1520 CE Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5) [continuity]

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General Description

General description
During the Monte Alban IIIB and IV periods (500-900 CE) in the Valley of Oaxaca Monte Alban and the capital of the neighbouring state, Teotihuacaln declined, with public buildings no longer being maintained and the population of the capitals declining. A mixture of internal and external reasons for this decline are suggested, and has been summed up by Flannery and Marcus: ‘...without the ever-present competitive threat of Teotihuacan, there was one less reason to support what already had become a maladaptive concentration of population on an unproductive 400-m mountaintop.’ ^[1] Unfortunately, detailed chronological data from this period is not present as the ceramic sequences of the IIIB and IV phases are very difficult to differentiate and radiocarbon dates have yet to refine the sequence. ^[2] The IIIb and IV phases have therefore been combined as one phase on this page. During this phase the population which had previously occupied the capital dispersed into smaller settlements throughout the valley and the valley became occupied by a series of militaristic ‘city states, ^[3] which lasted until the arrival of the Spanish in the 1520s. ^[4]
Population and political organization
As the Zapotec state was in a process of fragmentation into smaller polities, the actual extent of any polity in the Valley of Oaxaca is very difficult to determine for this period. ^[5] ^[6] Although the polity was politically fragmented, nobles continued to occupy hereditary positions of power, which were legitimated through their relationship with their ancestors. ^[7] Nobles continued to have control over and exclusive access to resources and exercised rights not available to commoners “Members of ruling houses, for example, had the right to engage in warfare, take captives, play the ballgame, and offer human sacrifices.” ^[8]
The overall population of the valley grew during this period, although people were no longer unified under one polity. ^[9] The population of the whole valley has been estimated at 90,000-200,000 people. ^[10]

[1]: (Flannery & Marcus 1983, 183) Flannery, Kent and Marcus, Joyce. 1983. The Cloud People: Divergent Evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations. Museum of Anthropology. New York: Academic Press. p.183https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/CNG67KKA

[2]: (Flannery & Marcus 1983, 184) Flannery, Kent and Marcus, Joyce. 1983. The Cloud People: Divergent Evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations. Museum of Anthropology. New York: Academic Press. p.184 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/CNG67KKA

[3]: (Flannery & Marcus 1983, 184) Flannery, Kent and Marcus, Joyce. 1983. The Cloud People: Divergent Evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations. Museum of Anthropology. New York: Academic Press. p.184https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/CNG67KKA

[4]: (Flannery & Marcus 1976, 376) Flannery, Kent V. and Joyce. Marcus. 1976. ‘Formative Oaxaca and Zapotec Cosmos.’ American Scientist 64(4): 374-383. p.376 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/QKPEF5Q8

[5]: (Marcus & Flannery 1996) Marcus, Kent and Flannery, Joyce. 1996. Zapotec Civilization: How Urban Society Evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. Thames and Hudson. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/SHF4S8D7

[6]: (Flannery & Marcus 1983) Flannery, Kent and Marcus, Joyce. 1983. The Cloud People: Divergent Evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations. Museum of Anthropology. New York: Academic Press. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/CNG67KKA

[7]: (Joyce 2009, 198) Joyce, A.A. 2009. ’Peoples of America: Mixtecs, Zapotecs, and Chatinos: Ancient Peoples of Southern Mexico’. Hoboken, GB: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 198. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/JPXCWSSG

[8]: (Joyce 2009, 215-217) Joyce, A.A. 2009. Peoples of America : Mixtecs, Zapotecs, and Chatinos: Ancient Peoples of Southern Mexico. Hoboken, GB: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 215-217 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/JPXCWSSG

[9]: (Flannery & Marcus 1983) Flannery, Kent and Marcus, Joyce. 1983. The Cloud People: Divergent Evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations. Museum of Anthropology. New York: Academic Press. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/CNG67KKA.</

[10]: (Kowalewski et al. 1989) Kowalewski, S. A., Feiman, G.M., Finsten, L., Blanton, R. E. and Nicholas, L. M. 1989. Monte Albán’s Hinterland, Part II: The Prehispanic Settlement Patterns in Tlacoula, Etla and Ocotlán, the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. Memoirs of the Museum of Anthropology. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/F76EVNU3/itemKey/JH54I6Q3

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

2 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

1 Religious Tradition

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

2 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

3 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

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

2 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

2 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	Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4) was in:
(500 CE 899 CE)	Valley of Oaxaca

Home NGA: Valley of Oaxaca

General Variables

Identity and Location Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	14 Q	500 CE 900 CE
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Original Name	Monte Albán IIIB and IV	500 CE 900 CE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital)	500 CE 900 CE
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Alternative Name	Monte Albán IIIB	500 CE 900 CE
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Alternative Name	Monte Albán IVA	500 CE 900 CE
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Alternative Name	Late Classic	500 CE 900 CE
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Temporal Bounds Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[500 CE ➜ 900 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	500 CE 900 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Zapotec	500 CE 900 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Monte Albán V	500 CE 900 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	500 CE 900 CE
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Preceding Entity 200 CE 500 CE	Monte Alban III (mx_monte_alban_3_a) [continuity]
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Succeeding Entity 900 CE 1520 CE	Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5) [continuity] Expert
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	500 CE 900 CE
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Language Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Otomanguean	500 CE 900 CE
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Language	Zapotec	500 CE 900 CE
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Religion Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religious Tradition	Monte Albán Religion	500 CE 900 CE
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Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[15,000 to 30,000] people	500 CE 900 CE
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Polity Territory	- Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Polity Population	[7,245 to 9,660] people	500 CE 900 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	3	500 CE 700 CE
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Settlement Hierarchy	2	700 CE 900 CE
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Religious Level	- Undecided	500 CE 900 CE
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Military Level	[1 to 2]	500 CE 900 CE
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Administrative Level	- Undecided	500 CE 900 CE
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Professions Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Present Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present Inferred	500 CE 800 CE
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Specialized Government Building	Absent Uncertain	800 CE 900 CE
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Specialized Government Building	Present Uncertain	800 CE 900 CE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Law Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Judge	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Court	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Food Storage Site	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Port	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Canal	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Bridge	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Information / Writing System Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Script	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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History	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Fiction	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Calendar	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Information / Money Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Precious Metal	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Article	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Information / Postal System Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Courier	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Information / Measurement System Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Moat	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Ditch	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Military use of Metals Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Iron	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Copper	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Bronze	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Projectiles Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Sling	Present Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Self Bow	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Javelin	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Composite Bow	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Atlatl	Present	500 CE 900 CE
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Handheld weapons Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Sword	Present Disputed	500 CE 900 CE
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Sword	Absent Disputed	500 CE 900 CE
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Spear	Present Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Polearm	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Dagger	Present Disputed	500 CE 900 CE
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Dagger	Absent Disputed	500 CE 900 CE
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Battle Axe	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Animals used in warfare Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Elephant	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Donkey	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Dog	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Camel	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Armor Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Shield	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Helmet	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	500 CE 900 CE
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Naval technology Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	500 CE 900 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	500 CE 900 CE
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Human Sacrifice Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4)

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