Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Archaic Basin of Mexico

6000 BCE 2001 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  mx_basin_of_mexico_1 / MxArch*
Preceding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

Displayed: 1326 CE

1326133713491360137113831394140514171428


Learn more about polity border choices.
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.


  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 Archaic or Pre-Ceramic period (c. 6000-2001 BCE). This period may be described as a long, gradual transition from a lifestyle centred on big-game hunting prevalent in the preceding "Paleo-Indian" period to a sedentary, agricultural lifestyle in the succeeding "Formative" period. Indeed, Archaic sites are defined by their lack of both large animal remains and ceramics. [1] No population estimates could be found in the consulted literature. Similarly, no information could be found on the political organisation of settlements at the time.

[1]: (Kennett 2012: 141) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/RTF3FP57.

General Variables
Social Complexity Variables
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1) was in:
 (6000 BCE 2001 BCE)   Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico
General Variables
Identity and Location Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Temporal Bounds Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [6000 BCE ➜ 2001 BCE] Confident Expert
Loading...
Political and Cultural Relations Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity MxInitl Confident Expert 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity
2000 BCE 1201 BCE
Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)   [None]  Confident Expert
Loading...
Language Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Religion Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement - Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Polity Territory - Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Polity Population - Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Hierarchical Complexity Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Military Level - Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Administrative Level - Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Professions Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Unknown Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Professional Priesthood Unknown Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Professional Military Officer Unknown Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Bureaucracy Characteristics Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Full Time Bureaucrat Unknown Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Examination System Unknown Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Law Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Judge Unknown Suspected 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Court Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Irrigation System Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Food Storage Site Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Drinking Water Supply System Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Transport Infrastructure Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Special-purpose Sites Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Script Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Nonwritten Record Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Mnemonic Device Present Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Sacred Text Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Religious Literature Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Practical Literature Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Philosophy Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
History Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Fiction Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Calendar Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Information / Money Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moat Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Fortified Camp Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Earth Rampart Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Ditch Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Complex Fortification Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Long Wall absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Military use of Metals Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Iron Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Copper Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Bronze Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Projectiles Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Sling Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Self Bow Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Javelin Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Composite Bow Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Atlatl Absent Inferred 6000 BCE 4001 BCE
Loading...
Atlatl Present Confident 4000 BCE 2001 BCE
Loading...
Handheld weapons Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Sword Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Spear Absent Inferred 6000 BCE 4001 BCE
Loading...
Spear Present Confident 4000 BCE 2001 BCE
Loading...
Polearm Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Dagger Present Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Battle Axe Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Animals used in warfare Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Elephant Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Donkey Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Dog Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Camel Absent Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Armor Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Shield Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Limb Protection Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Helmet Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Breastplate Absent Inferred 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Naval technology Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident 6000 BCE  2001 BCE
Loading...
Human Sacrifice Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions