Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Middle Formative Basin of Mexico

800 BCE 401 BCE
EQ 2020  mx_basin_of_mexico_4 / MxFormM
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1200 BCE 801 BCE Early Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_3)    [population replacement]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
400 BCE 101 BCE Late Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_5)    [continuity]


  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 Middle Formative period (c. 800-401 BCE). This period was characterised by increasingly widespread and elaborate public architecture, more distinctive regional pottery styles, more extensive greenstone trade, and an increased use of stone for symbolic expression. Together, these trends suggest that elites across Mesoamerica were broadening the ways they expressed their power, and shaping the emergence of new forms of regional and community interactions in the process. [1]
Sanders et al. (1979) tentatively estimated that there were approximately 25,000 people in the Basin of Mexico around 650 BC. [2] However, no estimates could be found for the population of the average autonomous political unit. The largest known settlement, Chalcatzingo, may have had a population of between 3,000 and 5,000. [3]
Settlement hierarchies either maintained or increased the number of levels. [1]

[1]: (Pool 2012: 181) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/KISGMGK6.

[2]: 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.

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

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 Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4) was in:
 (800 BCE 401 BCE) Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico

General Variables
Identity and Location Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 14 Q Expert 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Original Name Middle Formative Basin of Mexico Expert 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Alternative Name 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Alternative Name 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Alternative Name 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Suprapolity Relations 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Supracultural Entity 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Succeeding Entity MxCuicu Expert 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Succeeding Entity
400 BCE 101 BCE
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Preceding Entity
1200 BCE 801 BCE
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Degree of Centralization 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Language Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Proto-Otomanguean Expert 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Religion Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Polity Territory 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Polity Population 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Religious Level 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Administrative Level 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Professions Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Professional Priesthood 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Professional Military Officer 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Merit Promotion 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Examination System 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Law Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Judge 800 BCE  401 BCE
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800 BCE  401 BCE
Court 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Irrigation System 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Food Storage Site 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Port 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Canal 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Bridge 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Information / Writing System Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Script 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Nonwritten Record 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Mnemonic Device 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Sacred Text 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Religious Literature 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Practical Literature 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Philosophy 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification 800 BCE  401 BCE
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History 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Fiction 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Calendar 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Information / Money Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Precious Metal 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Paper Currency 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Indigenous Coin 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Foreign Coin 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Article 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Information / Postal System Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
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Postal Station 800 BCE  401 BCE
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General Postal Service 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Courier 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlements in a Defensive Position 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Long Wall absent 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Military use of Metals Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Iron 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Copper 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Bronze 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Projectiles Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Sling 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Self Bow 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Javelin 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Atlatl 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Handheld weapons Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Sword 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Spear 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Polearm 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Dagger 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Battle Axe 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Elephant 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Donkey 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Dog 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Camel 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Armor Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Shield 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Limb Protection 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Leather Cloth 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Helmet 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Breastplate 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Naval technology Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Small Vessels Canoes Etc 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 800 BCE  401 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Middle Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_4)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions