Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Initial Formative Basin of Mexico

2000 BCE 1201 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  mx_basin_of_mexico_2 / MxInitl
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
6000 BCE 2001 BCE Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)    [None]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
1200 BCE 801 BCE Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)    [population replacement]


  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 Initial Formative period (c. 2000-1201 BCE). At the start of this period, maize, squash, and other food crops had been domesticated; however, the earliest known pottery and the earliest known settled villages in the region date to a few centuries later, between 1600 and 1400 BCE. [1]
No population estimates could be found in the consulted literature; however, knowing that the site of Tlatilco (which was rather large for its time, and which was settled toward the end of this period) covered about 65 hectares (i.e. 160 acres), [2] we may estimate that it had a population of between 3,000 and 13,000 people, assuming between 50 and 200 per hectare. No information could be found on the political organisation of settlements at the time, though it is worth noting that, beginning in 1500 BCE, the Basin developed a two-tiered settlement system, [3] suggesting perhaps a hierarchical relationship between larger settlements and smaller ones. Moreover, the ability of certain segments of the population to intensify and control access to staples and ceremonial foods likely led to the earliest emergence of social inequalities and political hierarchies. [1]

[1]: (Pool 2012: 171) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/KISGMGK6.

[2]: (Coe 1994: 46) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/5DJ2S5IF.

[3]: (Evans 2004: 124) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/EWW3Q2TA.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
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 Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2) was in:
 (2000 BCE 1201 BCE)   Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico
General Variables
Identity and Location Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Original Name Initial Formative Basin of Mexico Confident Expert 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [2000 BCE ➜ 1201 BCE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity MxFormE Confident Expert 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Preceding Entity
6000 BCE 2001 BCE
Archaic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_1)   [None]  Confident Expert
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Succeeding Entity
1200 BCE 801 BCE
Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)   [population replacement]  Confident Expert
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Language Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Religion Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [3,000 to 13,000] people Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Polity Territory - Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Polity Population - Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 2000 BCE 1500 BCE
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Settlement Hierarchy 2 Confident 1500 BCE 1201 BCE
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Military Level - Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Administrative Level - Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Professions Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Professional Priesthood Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Law Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
Court Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Irrigation System Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Food Storage Site Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Special-purpose Sites Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Script Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Mnemonic Device Present Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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History Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Fiction Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Calendar Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Information / Money Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moat Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Fortified Camp Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Earth Rampart Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Ditch Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Long Wall absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Military use of Metals Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Iron Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Copper Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Bronze Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Projectiles Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Sling Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Self Bow Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Javelin Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Composite Bow Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Atlatl Present Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Handheld weapons Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Sword Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Spear Present Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Dagger Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Battle Axe Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Donkey Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Dog Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Camel Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Armor Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Shield Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Limb Protection Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Helmet Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Breastplate Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Naval technology Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident 2000 BCE  1201 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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