Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Early Formative Basin of Mexico

1200 BCE 801 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  mx_basin_of_mexico_3 / MxFormE
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
2000 BCE 1201 BCE Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)    [population replacement]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
800 BCE 401 BCE Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)    [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 Early Formative period (c. 1200-801 BCE). During this period, sociopolitical hierarchies emerged and expanded throughout much of Mesoamerica more broadly, including the southern Valley of Mexico. This is evident, for example, in the establishment of a two-tiered settlement system, [1] as well in the emergence of craft specialisation, specifically with regards to the manufacture of obsidian blades at sites such as Coapexco. [2] Moreover, the Early Formative saw the earliest shared style in Mesoamerica, characterised by a standardized set of symbols, typically carved or incised on black, black-and-white, and white or white-slipped ceramics. [3]
Sanders et al. (1979) tentatively estimated that there were approximately 5,000 people in the Basin of Mexico around 1150 BC. [4] However, no estimates could be found for the population of the average autonomous political unit. The largest known settlement, Tlatilco, may have had a population of as little as 1,000 inhabitants over 40 hectares, [5] or between 2,000 and 4,000. [6]

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

[2]: Paul Tolstoy. (1989) "Coapexco and Tlatilco: sites with Olmec material in the Basin of Mexico", In Regional Perspectives on the Olmec, Robert J. Sharer & David C. Grove (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 96.

[3]: (Pool 2012: 176) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/KISGMGK6.

[4]: Sanders, William T., Jeffrey R. Parsons, and Robert S. Santley. (1979) The Basin of Mexico: Ecological Processes in the Evolution of a Civilization. Academic Press, New York, pg. 183.

[5]: Paul Tolstoy. (1989) "Coapexco and Tlatilco: sites with Olmec material in the Basin of Mexico", In Regional Perspectives on the Olmec, Robert J. Sharer & David C. Grove (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pg. 87-121.

[6]: (Carballo 2019: pers. comm. to G. Nazzaro and E. Cioni)

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 Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3) was in:
 (1200 BCE 801 BCE)   Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico
General Variables
Identity and Location Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 14 Q Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Original Name Early Formative Basin of Mexico Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Alternative Name Zacatenco Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Alternative Name Manantial Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Alternative Name Bomba Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Alternative Name El Arbolillo Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Alternative Name Ixtapaluca Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [1200 BCE ➜ 801 BCE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations alliance with [---] Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Suprapolity Relations unknown [---] Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Succeeding Entity MxFormM Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 40,000 km2 Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity population migration Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity cultural assimilation Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Succeeding Entity
800 BCE 401 BCE
Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)   [population replacement]  Confident Expert
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Preceding Entity
2000 BCE 1201 BCE
Initial Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_2)   [population replacement]  Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Language Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Proto-Otomanguean Confident Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Religion Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [1,000 to 4,000] people Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Polity Territory - Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Polity Population - Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [2 to 3] Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Administrative Level [1 to 2] Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Professions Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Professional Priesthood Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Law Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Judge Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
Court Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Irrigation System Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE 901 BCE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 900 BCE 801 BCE
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Food Storage Site Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Port Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Canal Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Bridge Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Other Special Purpose Site Uncoded Undecided 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Information / Writing System Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Script Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Mnemonic Device Present Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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History Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Fiction Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Calendar Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Information / Money Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Precious Metal Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Article Present Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Information / Postal System Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Fastest Individual Communication - Undecided 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Military use of Metals Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Iron Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Copper Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Bronze Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Projectiles Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Sling Present Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Self Bow Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Javelin Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Atlatl Present Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Handheld weapons Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Sword Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Spear Present Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Battle Axe Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Donkey Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Dog Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Camel Absent Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Armor Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Shield Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Limb Protection Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Leather Cloth Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Helmet Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Breastplate Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Naval technology Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  801 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions