ANTH 336 New World Prehistory
Dr. Darlene Applegate
Fall 2006
Chronological Units and Culture History
COLONIZATION PERIOD
(AD 1500 to 1900)
Spanish influence
POST-CLASSIC PERIOD
(AD 700 to 1500)
continued development of diagnostic features of
complex societies:
period ends at time of European contact
CLASSIC PERIOD
(AD 250 to 700)
continued development of diagnostic features of
complex societies
Valley of Oaxaca: Monte Alban:
Mixtec Civilization (AD 300-800)
Lowlands and Highlands:
Maya (AD 250 to 900)
FORMATIVE / PRE-CLASSIC PERIOD
(1500 BC to AD 250)
subdivided into early, middle and late periods
development of pottery technology
food production widespread in this period
development of many
diagnostic
features of Mesoamerica, such as pyramids, ceremonial centers, art
motifs, and
religion systems
first complex societies
Gulf Coast: Olmec (1500 to 500 BC)
Valley of Oaxaca: Monte Alban: Zapotec Civilization (1400 BC
to AD
700)
Lowlands: Maya
(1000 BC to AD 250)
ARCHAIC / INITIAL PERIOD
(7000 to 1500 BC)
pre-pottery time period
transition from hunting-gathering to food production
domestication of
several
species of plants and animals
EARLY HUNTER PERIOD
(11,000 to 7000 BC)
initial peopling of the region, probably by groups moving south from
North
America
mobile populations of big-game hunters initially, followed by mobile populations of generalized hunter-gatherers
Figure 1.
Timeline of Mesoamerican Archaeological
Cultures.
http://www.mesoweb.com/resources/timelines/crystal_timeline.html
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Last updated on November 1, 2006
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