Monumental Architecture in Central Mexico during the Terminal Formative: New Findings from the Tlalancaleca Archaeological Project, Puebla

Summary

Tlalancaleca was one of the largest settlements before the rise of Teotihuacan in Central Mexico and has been known for the presence of early talud-tablero facades (a combination of sloping walls and vertical panels) and other cultural elements inherited by Teotihuacan. This paper presents preliminary results of excavations, which were carried at monumental structures at Tlalancaleca. It examines the construction techniques used for monument building (including talud-tablero facades), the degree of urban planning, and the temporal relationship between monumental construction and the urban development based on new radiocarbon dates. Preliminary analysis suggests that monumental construction and reconstruction was heightened during the Terminal Formative period and was associated with urban expansion after the eruption of Popocatepetl around AD 50. While there was no central avenue at Tlalancaleca, we have noted a certain degree of standardization of main axes for monumental building. Such a standardization suggests the integrated nature of several monumental complexes. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings for better understanding sociopolitical dynamics in Central Mexico during the Terminal Formative.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 19982