Home Region: Mexico (North America)

Monte Alban V

900 CE 1520 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 mx_monte_alban_5 / MxAlb5*

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

500 CE 900 CE Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

General Description

The Monte Alban V period is generally known for the balkianisation of polities in the valley. ^[1] The length assigned to the Monte Albán V phase is due to the consistency of ceramic style throughout the period, and lack of evidence for major changes in other archaeological remains. There may have been many changes over these centuries, but it has been argued that the conservatism of ceramics suggests a time of relative political stability. ^[2] The primary evidence for this period comes from the accounts written by the Spanish after they arrived in the 1520s. This means that there is much more information than previous periods for certain aspects of life for the inhabitants of Oaxaca, such as the name for the head of the ruling class (the coquitao or “great lord”) and full-time priests (bigaña), ^[3] but less information in other respects as there were no longer any monumental buildings or large settlements being constructed. The unified valley under the Zapotec state had gone by this period, replaced by around 15-20 smaller polities ^[4] ^[5] which were often fighting one another (as suggested by the widespread use of fortifications and descriptions in the ethnohistoric records), ^[6] but the overall population of the valley continued to increase to the highest number yet reached in the valley. ^[4] In addition, craft work and specialisation became more widespread, with more finely decorated ceramics being produced throughout the valley and were not just concentrated in the main settlements as before. ^[7]

[1]: Flannery and Marcus (1983) The Cloud People: divergent evolution of the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations. Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Academic Press, New York. p217

[2]: Blanton, Kowalewski, Feinman, Appel (1982) Monte Alban’s Hinterland, Part I: The Prehispanic settlement patterns of the Central and Southern Parts of the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. Prehistory and human ecology of the Valley of Oaxaca, Vol. 7. p115

[3]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1976). "Formative Oaxaca and Zapotec Cosmos." American Scientist 64(4): 374-383, p376

[4]: Blanton, R. E., et al. (1979). "Regional evolution in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico." Journal of Field Archaeology 6(4): 369-390. p385

[5]: Feinman, G. M., et al. (1985). "Long-term demographic change: A perspective from the valley of Oaxaca, Mexico." Journal of Field Archaeology 12(3): 333-362. p359-61

[6]: Flannery and Marcus (1983) The Cloud People. New York. p217

[7]: Blanton, R. E., et al. (1979). "Regional evolution in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico." Journal of Field Archaeology 6(4): 369-390. p387

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

1 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

2 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 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

1 Source Of Support

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 Food Storage Site

1 Knowledge Or Information Building

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 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

1 Weight Measurement System

1 Volume Measurement System

1 Time Measurement System

1 Other Measurement System

1 Geometrical Measurement System

1 Area 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

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	Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5) was in:
(900 CE 1520 CE)	Valley of Oaxaca

Home NGA: Valley of Oaxaca

General Variables

Identity and Location Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	14 Q Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Original Name	Monte Alban V Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital) Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Alternative Name	Early and Late Postclassic Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Temporal Bounds Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[900 CE ➜ 1520 CE] Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	personal union with [---] Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Suprapolity Relations	none Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Spanish colonial rule Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Preceding Entity 500 CE 900 CE	Monte Alban IIIB and IV (mx_monte_alban_3_b_4) [continuity] Expert
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Language Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Otomanguean Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Language	Zapotec Expert	900 CE 1520 CE
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Religion Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[4,236 to 10,590] people	900 CE 1520 CE
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Polity Territory	- Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Polity Population	[8,127 to 10,836] people	900 CE 1520 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[2 to 3]	900 CE 1520 CE
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Religious Level	3	900 CE 1520 CE
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Military Level	2	900 CE 1520 CE
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Administrative Level	[2 to 3]	900 CE 1520 CE
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Professions Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Source Of Support	uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1520 CE
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Merit Promotion	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Examination System	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Law Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Judge	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Court	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Food Storage Site	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Knowledge Or Information Building	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Port	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Canal	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Bridge	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Information / Writing System Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Script	Present Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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History	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Fiction	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Calendar	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Information / Money Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Precious Metal	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Article	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Information / Postal System Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Courier	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Information / Measurement System Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Weight Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Volume Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Time Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Other Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Geometrical Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Area Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1520 CE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown	900 CE 1520 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown	900 CE 1520 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moat	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Ditch	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Complex Fortification	Present Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Military use of Metals Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Iron	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Copper	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Bronze	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Projectiles Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Sling	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Self Bow	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Javelin	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Atlatl	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Handheld weapons Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Sword	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Spear	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Polearm	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Dagger	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Battle Axe	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Animals used in warfare Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Elephant	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Donkey	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Dog	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Camel	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Armor Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Shield	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present	900 CE 1520 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Helmet	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Breastplate	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Naval technology Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	900 CE 1520 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1520 CE
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Human Sacrifice Monte Alban V (mx_monte_alban_5)

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