Classic Period Architectural Variation and Interregional Interaction: A View from the Tres Zapotes Hinterland

Summary

During the Protoclassic (A.D. 1-300) and Early Classic (A.D. 300-600) periods, the Eastern Lower Papaloapan Basin (ELPB) experienced an important reorganization. The political influence of the large center at Tres Zapotes began to wane and a series of new centers were established across an increasingly independent, but fragmented political landscape. Eschewing the architectural cannons of the Tres Zapotes polity, these new centers are characterized by diverse configurations revealed by pedestrian survey and LiDAR mapping, many of which feature monumental platforms and/or "Standard Plan" layouts, architectural forms more common in Central and South-Central Veracruz. I argue that the use of these non-local styles reflects a reorientation of interregional interaction in the ELPB toward the large polities in Central Veracruz, such as Cerro de las Mesas. These interactions are further evidenced by the appearance of Mixtequilla style ceramics in the ELPB during the Early Classic period.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Charting the Evolution of the Tres Zapotes Polity: Results of the RRATZ 2014–2016 Field Seasons

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15441