Monte Albán's Hinterland, Part II: Prehispanic Settlement Patterns in Tlacolula, Etla, and Ocotlan, the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, Vols. 1 and 2 9780915703753, 9781951538033

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MEMOIRS OF THE MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NUMBER 23

Monte Alban's Hinterland, Part II PREHISPANIC SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN TLACOLULA, ETLA, AND OCOTLAN, THE VALLEY OF OAXACA, MEXICO

VOLUME 1

by Stephen A. Kowalewski Gary M. Feinman Laura Finsten Richard E. Blanton Linda M. Nicholas with contributions by Robert D. Drennan J. Michael Elam Kent V. Flannery Barbara Macnider

Ann Arbor

1989

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MEMOIRS OF THE MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NUMBER 23

Monte Alban's Hinterland, Part II PREHISPANIC SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN TLACOLULA, ETLA, AND OCOTLAN, THE VALLEY OF OAXACA, MEXICO

VOLUME 1

by Stephen A. Kowalewski Gary M. Feinman Laura Finsten Richard E. Blanton Linda M. Nicholas with contributions by

Robert D. Drennan J. Michael Elam Kent V. Flannery Barbara Macnider

Ann Arbor 1989

© 1989 The Regents of the University of Michigan The Museum of Anthropology All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-915703-75-3 (paper) ISBN 978-1-951538-03-3 (ebook)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of Figures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of Plates ..................................................................... Preface ......................................................................... I. INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scope of This Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spatial and Temporal Scales .................................................... Regions .................................................................... Oaxaca as Seen by its Early Colonial Administrators ................................ The State of Oaxaca: A Functional Region ......................................... The Region of the Valley of Oaxaca ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Field and Laboratory Procedures ................................................ The Surface Archaeology of the Valley of Oaxaca .................................... II. PRE CERAMIC SITES AND CAVE OCCUPATIONS by Laura Finsten, Kent V. Flannery, and Barbara Macnider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SmithsonianiMichigan Project Site Descriptions ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Settlement Pattern Project Site Descriptions ........................................ Summary............................................................ ....... III. TIERRAS LARGAS, SAN JOSE, AND GUADALUPE PHASE SETTLEMENT PATTERNS................................................ ................. Chronology ................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sites from the Survey and Other Studies ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Characteristics of Early Formative Sites ........................................... Boserup and the Archaeology of the Valley of Oaxaca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Why Etla? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Settlement Continuity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Integration and Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comparisons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary................................................................... IV. ROSARIO PHASE SETTLEMENT PATTERNS..... ... .................. .... .... ... . Characteristics of Rosario Phase Sites ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regional and Subregional Systems ................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boundary Maintenance ........................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusions ................................................................. V. MONTE ALBAN EARLY I SETTLEMENT PATTERNS...... . ......... . ... ..... ....... Theme. . .. . . .... . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . .. . . . . ... . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . ... . . . . .. . . . . . Site Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 'Seven Monte Alban Early I Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Growth of the Regional System ................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Settlement Patterns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ceramic Type Distributions ........................................... . . . . . . . . . . Monte Alban's Barrios and its Hinterland ......................................... Hierarchy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subregional Patterns .......................................................... Summary and Conclusions ..................................................... VI. MONTE ALBAN LATE I SETTLEMENT PATTERNS ................................ Themes .................................................................... Site Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ten Late I Sites ............................................................... Settlement Patterns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lU

vii xi

xv xv xvii 1 1 1 3 6 6 15 2t ~

39 39 49 52 55 55 55 59 63 63 64 66 fJl

68 00 00 72 76 81 82 85 85 85 88 00 91 94 96 g]

107 110 113 113 115 118 120

MONTE ALBAN'S HINTERLAND Growth and the Piedmont Strategy .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VII. MONTE ALBAN II SETTLEMENT PATTERNS .................................... Themes .................................................................... Characteristics of Monte Alban II Sites ............................................ Ten Monte Alban II Sites ....................................................... The Decline in Scale .......................................................... Settlement Patterns ........................................................... Pottery Distributions .......................................................... Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VIII. MONTE ALBAN IlIA SETTLEMENT PATTERNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Themes. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Characteristics of Monte Alban lIlA Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Twenty Monte Alban IlIA Sites .................................................. Settlement Patterns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Growth in Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Production and Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX. MONTE ALBAN IIIB-IV SETTLEMENT PATTERNS ................................. Themes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . Introduction ................................................................. Monte Alban IIIB Site Characteristics ............................................. Monte Alban IIIB Central Places and Specialized Sites ................................ Monte Alban IIIB Ceramic Distributions .............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monte Alban IV Site Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monte Alban IV Central Places and Specialized Sites ................................. Monte Alban IV Ceramic Workshops and Type Distributions ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusions about Monte Alban IIIB and IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X. MONTE ALBAN V SETTLEMENT PATTERNS...................................... Themes. ... . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . ... . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Site Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Twenty Monte Alban V Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Pattern of Settlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Religion ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Territorial Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Production and Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusions ................................................................. XI. THE MOUNTAINS NORTH OF THE VALLEY by Robert D. Drennan .................... Methodology ................................................................. The Survey Tract ............................................................. The Settlement Sequence ....................................................... Conclusion .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix: Site Descriptions ..................................................... XII. DEFENSIBLE AND FORTIFIED SITES by J. Michael Elam ............................ Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Site Descriptions ............................................................. Discussion .................................................................. XIII. CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE: PERIODS I THROUGH V OF THE VALLEY OF OAXACA, MEXICO by Richard E. Blanton ....................... Introduction ................................................................. A Communications Approach to Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Analysis Part I: Individual Structures ............................................ Analysis Part II: Plaza Groups .................................................. lV

123 126 150 153 153 153 157 158 161 164 182 198 201 201 201 206 208 212 213 226 249 251 251 251 254 259 272 281 286 298 301 307 307 307 310 312 317 340 344 348 364 367 370 372 373 382 383 385 385 394 403 409 409 413 416 425

TABLE OF CONTENTS Analysis Part III: Site Level Analysis .................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusions ................................................................. XIV. LAND USE IN PREHISPANIC OAXACA by Linda M. Nicholas ........................ Introduction ................................................................. Variables and Assumptions .................................................... Land Distribution ............................................................ Population Distribution vs. Agricultural Resources .................................. Production .................................................................. Phase by Phase Discussion ..................................................... Conclusion ................................................................. XV. CONCLUSIONS .............................................................. A Structural History of Prehispanic Oaxaca ........................................ Discussion ................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDICES ................................................................... I. SITE DATA ............................................................... Coding Scheme .......................................................... Coded Data ............................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments .............................................................. II. GRID SQUARE MAPS ...................................................... III. TABULAR PRESENTATION OF SETTLEMENT DATA .......................... IV. SITES THAT HAVE BEEN COMBINED ....................................... V. FIELD NUMBERS AND SITE NUMBERS ....................................... VI. CERAMIC DATA .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coding Scheme .......................................................... New Type Descriptions .................................................... Coded Data ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VII. TERRACE SUMMARIES ................................................... VIII. STRUCTURE SUMMARIES ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Architecture Data Set ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plaza Group Data ...................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Structures .......................................................... IX. SITE DRAWINGS . ........................................................ REFERENCES CITED ............................................................. RESUMEN EN ESPANOL ..........................................................

v

433 444 449 449 451 460 462 478 489 503 ffJ7 ffJ7 513 519 519 519 524 fJ27 633 755 799 803 825 825 829 838 931 983 983 1007 1017 1041 1103 1121

TABLES

1.1. 1.2. 1.3. 1.4.

1.5. 1.6. 1.7. 1.8. 1.9. 1.10. 1.11. 1.12. 1.13. 1.14. 3.1. 4.1. 4.2. 5.1. 5.2. 5.3. 5.4. 5.5.

5.6. 5.7. 5.8. 5.9. 5.10. 5.11. 5.12. 5.13. 6.1. 6.2. 6.3. 6.4.

6.5. 6.6.

6.7. 6.8 6.9. 6.10. 7.1. 7.2. 7.3. 7.4.

7.5. 7.6.

7.7. 7.8. 7.9. 8.1. 8.2. 8.3.

Valley of Oaxaca Chronology .............................................. . All Sites by Elevation .................................................... . All Sites by Environmental Zone ........................................... . All Sites by Soil Characteristics ............................................ . All Sites by Degree of Erosion .............................................. . All Sites by Predominant Vegetation ........................................ . All Sites by Current Land Use ............................................. . All Sites by Current Irrigation ............................................. . All Sites with Local Chipped Stone .......................................... . Ground Stone at All Sites ................................................. . Miscellaneous Cultural Features at All Sites .................................. . Other Components at All Sites ............................................. . Occupational Continuity at All Sites ........................................ . Occupational Continuity by Irrigation Potential ............................... . Mounds and Continuity of Occupation ....................................... . Rosario Phase Nearest Neighbor Distances ................................... . Rosario Phase Potential Central Places ...................................... . Mano and Metate Frequencies ............................................. . Manos and Metates in Single Component Contexts ............................. . Early I Pottery at San Jose Mogote .......................................... . Rates of Demographic Change ............................................. . Observed and Expected Early I Site Distribution ...... . ........................ . Pottery Heterogeneity .................................................... . Relative Frequency of Early I Pottery, by Subregion ............................ . Correlation Matrix for Early I Pottery by Subregion and Site Subdivision ............ . Early I Population Central Places .......................................... . Nearest Neighbor Distances for Early I Central Places .......................... . Early I Small Sites with More Than One Mound ............................... . Distribution of Early I Sites with More Than One Mound ........................ . Characteristics of Early I Subregions ........................................ . Mounds and Occupational Continuity in Late I ................................ . Observed and Expected Late I Site Distribution ................................ . Distribution of Late I Population Central Places ............................... . Late I Population Central Places ........................................... . Late I Position of Large Early I Sites ........................................ . Late I Small Sites with More Than One Mound ................................ . Distribution of Late I Sites with More Than One Mound .......................... . Late I Pottery Types per Site Breakdown ...................................... . Late I Central Place Model ................................................ . Late I Central Place Model Residuals ....................................... . Degree of Erosion on Sites in Late I and II .................................... . Characteristics of Late I Sites Abandoned by Period II ........................... . Observed and Expected Period II Site Distribution .............................. . Period II Population Central Places ......................................... . Period II Position of Large Late I Sites ....................................... . Distribution of Period II Population Central Places ............................. . Period II Small Sites with More Than One Mound .............................. . Distribution of Period II Sites with More Than One Mound ....................... . Period II Central Place Model ............................................. . Erosion at Monte Alban IlIA Sites .......................................... . Observed and Expected IlIA Site Distribution ................................. . Monte Alban IlIA Population Central Places .................................. .

vu

2

ro ro 31

32 33 33 33 34 34 35 36 36

37 62

75 71 00 f57 89 00 92 94 94 97

100 104 106 106 108 117 121 128 130 132 133 134 140 142 144 154 159 162 184

185 185 191 191 196 203 209 227

MONTE ALBAN'S HINTERLAND 8.4. 8.5. 8.6. 8.7. 8.8. 8.9. 8.10. 8.1l. 9.l. 9.2. 9.3. 9.4. 9.5. 9.6 9.7. 9.B. 9.9. 10.l. 10.2. 10.3. 10.4. 10.5. 10.6. 10.7. 12.l. 13.l. 13.2. 13.3. 13.4. 13.5. 13.6. 13.7. 13.8 13.9. 13.10. 13.1l. 13.12. 13.13. 13.14. 13.15. 13.16. 13.17. 13.18. 13.19. 13.20. 14.l. 14.2. 14.3. 14.4. 14.5. 14.6. 14.7. 14.8. 14.9.

Monte Alban lIlA Position of the Top Period II Sites ............................. . Period II Position of the Top IlIA Sites ........................................ . Distribution of IlIA Population Central Places ................................. . Monte Alban IlIA Small Sites with more Than One Mound ....................... . Distribution of IlIA Sites with More Than One Mound ........................... . Summary Statistics for Selected lIlA Terraced Sites ............................ . Monte Alban lIlA Central Place Model ....................................... . Comparison of Terraced and Non-terraced Centers in lIlA ....................... . Monte Alban IIIB and IV Sites with Period V................................... . Monte Alban IIIB Population Central Places .................................. . Distribution of Monte Alban IIIB Population Central Places ...................... . Monte Alban IIIB Small Sites with More Than One Mound ....................... . Distribution of Monte Alban IIIB Sites with More Than One Mound ................. . Monte Alban IV Population Central Places .................................... . Distribution of Monte Alban IV Population Central Places ........................ . Monte Alban IV Small Sites with More Than One Mound ........................ . Distribution of Monte Alban IV Sites with More Than One Mound .................. . Observed and Expected Period V Site Distribution .............................. . Period V Population Central Places ......................................... . Distribution of Period V Population Central Places ............................. . Period V Small Sites with More Than One Mound .............................. . Distribution of Period V Sites with More Than One Mound ....................... . Period V Central Place Model .............................................. . Correlations among Attributes of Period V Centers ............................. . Fortified Site Data ....................................................... . Summary Statistics for the Architecture Sample ............................... . Basic Statistics for Structures, Architecture Sample ............................. . Mound Volume Statistics, Architecture Sample ................................ . Analytical Statistics for Structures, Architecture Sample ......................... . Mean and Standard Deviation, Structure Width Divided by Structure Length, Architecture Sample ..................................................... . Orientation Frequencies, Architecture Sample ................................ . Orientation Analysis, Structures and Platforms, Architecture Sample .............. . Frequencies of Plaza Categories by Period, Architecture Sample .................. . Variability in Plaza Groups by Period, Architecture Sample ...................... . Phi-Square Values for Plaza Group Configurations, Architecture Sample ............ . Formality Index for a Plaza ............................................... . Indices of Plaza Group Formality and Closure, Architecture Sample ................ . Site Summary, Late I .................................................... . Site Summary, Period II .................................................. . Site Summary, IlIA ...................................................... . Site Summary, IIIB ...................................................... . Site Summary, Period IV ................................................. . Site Summary, Period V .................................................. . Correlation Coefficients of Average Population with Number of Structures and Total Volume, Architecture Sample ......................................... . Summary Statistics, Architecture Sample .................................... . Land Class Distribution (in Hectares) by Grid Square .......................... . Regional Potential Population Based on Total Valley Resources ................... . Potential Population Based on Available Labor Supply ........................... . Population Change per Year (# of Persons) ................................... . Potential Population Based on Class III Yields Alone ........................... . High versus Low Rainfall Squares ..................................... .... . Rank Order Correlation Coefficients for Actual vs. Potential Populations of Each Subregion ............................................................. . Phi Squared Value by Phase ............................................... . Phi Squared Ranking by Phase ............................................ . VUl

234 234 235 236 237 241 246

248 252

260 263

267 267 2f37 290 295 295

313 320 322 32f3 32f3 334

337 404 411 417 419 420 421 423 424 427

428 429

430 431 434 435

436 437 438 439 440

445 454

458 459 464

465 467

468 469 469

TABLES 14.10. 14.1I. 14.12. 14.13. 14.14. 14.15. 14.16. 14.17. 14.18. 15.I. A.III.1. AIII.2. AIII.3. AIII.4. A.III.5. AIII.6. AIII.7. AIII.8. AIII.9. AIII.10. AIII.11. AIII.12. AIII.13. AIII.14. AIII.15. AIII.16. AIII.17. AIII.18. AIII.19. AIII.20. AIII.21. AIII.22. AIII.23. A.III.24. AIII.25. AIII.26. AIII.27. AIII.28. AIII.29. AIII.30. AlII. 31. AIII.32. AIII.33. A.III.34. AIII.35. AIII.36. AIII.37. AIII.38. AIII.39. AIII.40. A II I. 41. AIII.42. A.III.43

Chi Square Values by Subregion and Phase ................................... . Relationship Between Large Sites and MCPAs ................................. . Wilcoxon Rank Sum Scores for Catchment Circles and Large Sites ................ . Maximum Potential Populations (Valley Population Distributed on the Best Land) .... . Potential and Actual Populations by Subregion Based on Available Labor Supply ...... . High Population Squares ................................................. . What Happened to Squares Experiencing Pressure ............................. . Dependent People in Average and Dry Years .................................. . Potential Production in the Nine Squares around Monte Alban .................... . Characteristics of Macro-organizational Modes ............................... . Total Site Area for Each Survey Area and the Whole Valley ...................... . Population Estimate Ranges for the Valley and Each Survey Area ................. . Sites and Population for the Valley and Each Survey Area ....................... . Sites by Population Size Classes ............................................ . Percent Population by Population Size Classes ................................. . Population by Distance from Monte Alban .................................... . All Sites by Elevation .................................................... . Etla Sites by Elevation ................................................... . Central Area Sites by Elevation ............................................ . Valle Grande Sites by Elevation ............................................ . Tlacolula Sites by Elevation ............................................... . OcotIan Sites by Elevation ................................................. . Population by Elevation .................................................. . Etla Population by Elevation .............................................. . Central Area Population by Elevation ....................................... . Valle Grande Population by Elevation ....................................... . Tlacolula Population by Elevation .......................................... . OcotIan Population by Elevation ............................................ . All Sites and Population by Environmental Zone ............................... . Etla Sites and Population by Environmental Zone .............................. . Central Area Sites and Population by Environmental Zone ....................... . Valle Grande Sites and Population by Environmental Zone ...................... . Tlacolula Sites and Population by Environmental Zone ......................... . OcotIan Sites and Population by Environmental Zone ........................... . Degree of Erosion on Sites ................................................. . Percent Population by Degree of Erosion ...................................... . All Sites by Distance to Water .............................................. . Etla Sites by Distance to Water ............................................. . Central Area Sites by Distance to Water ...................................... . Valle Grande Sites by Distance to Water ..................................... . Tlacolula Sites by Distance to Water ........................................ . Ocotlan Sites by Distance to Water .......................................... . Type of Irrigation Present on All Sites ....................................... . Recency of Plowing on All Sites ........................................... . Predominant Vegetation on All Sites ........................................ . Modern Land Use of All Sites .............................................. . Predominant Crops on All Sites ............................................ . Occupational Continuity of Sites ........................................... . Occupational Continuity by Environmental Zone for Sites with Populations between 7.5 and 100 ...................................................... . Occupational Continuity by Environmental Zone for Sites with Populations between 101 and 500 ...................................................... . Occupational Continuity by Environmental Zone for Sites with Populations between 501 and 1000 ..................................................... . Occupational Continuity by Environmental Zone for Sites with Populations Greater Than 1000 ...................................................... . Summary Data on Terraced Sites .......................................... . lX

473 476 477 479 480 482 483 483 488

508 755 756

757 758

759 760 761 762 763

764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792

793 794

795 796 797

FIGURES 1.1. 1.2. 2.1.

2.2. 2.3. 2.4. 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 4.1. 5.1. 5.2. 5.3. 5.4.

5.5. 5.6. 5.7. 6.1. 6.2. 6.3. 6.4. 6.5. 6.6. 6.7. 6.8. 6.9. 6.10. 6.11. 7.1. 7.2. 7.3. 7.4. 7.5. 7.6. 7.7. 7.8. 7.9. 7.10. 7.11. 7.12. 7.13. 7.14. 7.15. 7.16. 7.17. 7.18. 7.19. 7.20. 7.21. 7.22. 7.23. 7.24. 8.1.

The state of Oaxaca, showing places mentioned in the text ........................ . The Valley of Oaxaca, showing places mentioned in the text ...................... . Caves, rock shelters, and open-air preceramic sites in eastern Tlacolula and adjacent canyons ....................................................... . A biface and three projectile points from the surface collection of OC-27, Cueva Redonda .. Fluted point from near San Juan Guelavia (4-13-2) ............................. . Possible preceramic points from the Settlement Pattern Project, 1980 ................ . Valley of Oaxaca settlements in the Tierras Largas phase ....................... . Valley of Oaxaca settlements in the San Jose phase ............................. . Valley of Oaxaca settlements in the Guadalupe phase ........................... . Rosario phase rank-size graph ............................................. . Early I site clusters ...................................................... . Distribution of Early I fancy gray pottery ..................................... . Histogram of Early I population centers ...................................... . Rank-size graph for the Valley in Early I ..................................... . Rank-size graph for Early I subregions ...................................... . Early I central place map ................................................. . Population by distance from Monte Alban for Early I subregions ................... . Distribution of Type 1297, combed bottom G-12 ................................. . Late I site clusters ....................................................... . The piedmont strategy in Late I ............................................ . Histogram of Late I population centers ....................................... . Late I central place map .................................................. . Growth of the settlement hierarchy from the Rosario phase to Late I ................. . Late I mound centers in Etla ............................................... . Map of Late I central place model residuals ................................... . Rank-size graph for the Valley in Late I ...................................... . Rank-size graphs for Late I subregions ...................................... . Possible artifact-poor areas in Late I ......................................... . Likely location and periods of erosion ....................................... . Period II site clusters .................................................... . Distribution of Type 1207, G-12 bowl ......................................... . Distribution of Type 2013A, curved neck K-1 oUa ............................... . Distribution of Type 2013B, K-19 oUa ........................................ . Distribution of Type 2414, graphite slip K-5 bowl ............................... . Distribution of Type 1419, White Rim Black ware .............................. . Distribution of Black and White pottery ...................................... . Distribution of Type 0380, black slip crema ................................... . Distribution of'l'ype 3500, Dainzu bowl ...................................... . Distribution of Type 0001, C-7 bowl .......................................... . Distribution of Type 0002, C-ll bowl ......................................... . Distribution of Type 0004, C-ll bowl ......................................... . Distribution of Type 0057, C-7 bowl .......................................... . Distribution of Type 1194, G-21 bowl ......................................... . Distribution of Type ·3408, A-9 bowl .......................................... . Spatial variation in fancy Period II pottery assemblages ......................... . Ceramic affiliation of Period II Monte Alban subdivisions ....................... . Histogram of Period II population centers ..................................... . Period II central place map ................................................ . Rank-size graph for the Valley in Period II ................................... . Rank-size graphs for Period II subregions .................................... . Period II sites with ball courts .............................................. . Distribution of Period II central place model residuals .......................... . Monte Alban IlIA site clusters .............................................. .

.xl

4

5 40 44 00 51 56

57 58 78 93 ~

99

101 102

103 109 114

122 125 127 129 132 136

145 146 147 150 160 163 166 167 168 169 170

171 172 173 174 175 176

177 178 179 181 182

183 186 187

188 194 197 211

MONTE ALBAN'S HINTERLAND 8.2. 8.3. 8.4. 8.5. 8.6. 8.7. 8.8. 8.9. 8.10. 8.1l. 8.12. 8.13. 8.14. 8.15. 9.l. 9.2. 9.3. 9.4. 9.5. 9.6. 9.7. 9.8. 9.9. 9.10. 9.1l. 9.12. 9.13. 9.14. 9.15. 9.16. 9.17. 9.18. 9.19. 9.20. 9.2l. 9.22. 9.23. 9.24. 9.25. 10.l. 10.2. 10.3. 10.4. 10.5. 10.6. 10.7. 10.8. 10.9. 10.10. 10.ll. 10.12. 10.13. 10.14. 10.15. 10.16. 10.17. 10.18.

Ceramic and lithic production places attributable only to IlIA ..................... . Distribution of Type 1120, G-1 oUa (IlIA) ...................................... . Distribution of Type 1126, G-35 bowl (IlIA) .................................... . Distribution of Type 1264, G-23 outleaned wall bowl ............................. . Distribution of Type 1265, G-23 hemispherical bowl ............................. . Distribution of Type 2009, raked cafe oUa ..................................... . Distribution of Type 2013A, K-1 oUa (IlIA) .................................... . Distribution of Type 3410, A-8 .............................................. . Distribution of Type 3500, Dainzu bowl (IlIA) .................................. . Histogram of IlIA population centers ........................................ . Monte Alban IlIA central place map ......................................... . Growth of the population hierarchy from II to lIlA ............................... . Rank-size graph for the Valley in IlIA ....................................... . Distribution of IlIA central place model residuals .............................. . Distribution of Type 3030, Fine Orange ...................................... . Histogram of Monte Alban IIIB population centers .............................. . Monte Alban IIIB central place map ......................................... . Rank-size graph for the Valley in Monte Alban IIIB ............................ . Monte Alban IIIB site clusters .............................................. . Monte Alban I1IB small mound centers in Etla and the Central area ................ . Distribution of Type 1120, outleaned neck oUa (IIIB) ............................ . Distribution of Type 1126, G-35 bowl (IIIB) .................................... . Distribution of Type 1140, "stick-polished" G-35 (HIB) ........................... . Distribution of Type 1263, G-35 hollow support (HIB) ............................. . Distribution of Type 1268, beveled rim bowl (HIB) .............................. . Distribution of Type 1274, G-35 nubbin support (IIIB) ............................ . Distribution of Type 2086, cafe conical cajete (lIIB) ............................. . Histogram of Monte Alban IV population centers ............................... . Monte Alban IV central place map .......................................... . Monte Alban IV site clusters ............................................... . Rank-size graph for the Valley in Monte Alban IV ............................. . Rank-size graph for the Valley, Monte Alban I1IB-IV ........................... . Rank-size graph for Tlacolula in Monte Alban IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Distribution of Type 1126, G-35 bowl (IV) ..................................... . Distribution of Type 1120, outleaned neck oUa (IV) ............................. . Distribution of Type 1274, G-35 nubbin support (IV) ............................. . Distribution of Type 1263, G-35 hollow support (IV) .............................. . Distribution of Type 1268, beveled rim bowl (IV) ................................ . Distribution of Type 2086, cate conical cajete (IV) .............................. . Frequency curves of sites per grid in Early I, IlIA, and V ........................ . Period V site clusters .................................................... . Histogram of Period V population centers .................................... . Period V central place map ................................................ . Rank-size graph for the Valley in Period V ................................... . Map of Period V central place model residuals ................................. . Distribution of Type 2220, sahumador ........................................ . Period V petty kingdoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ . Period V craft production sites ............................................. . Distribution of Type 1109, G-3M oUa ......................................... . Distribution of Type 1104, G-3M hemispherical bowl ............................ . Distribution of Type 1105, G-3M composite silhouette bowl ........................ . Distribution of Type 1106, G-3M outleaned wall bowl ............................ . Distribution of Type 1107, G-3M low, differentially fired bowl ..................... . Distribution of Type 0423, sandy cream oUa ................................... . Distribution of Type 0424, sandy cream bowl .................................. . Distribution of Type 5425, Huitzo Polished Red-on-Cream ........................ . Distribution of Type 2221, raked cafe oUa ..................................... . xu

215 216

217 218 219 220 221 222 223

230 231 233 235 247 254

262 264 265 266 268

273 274 275

276 277 278 279

288 289

291 292

293 294 299 300 301 3(Y2

303 304

314 316 318 319 325 336 341 345 349 351 352 353 354

355 356 357

358 359

FIGURES 10.19. 10.20. 10.21. 10.22. 10.23. 11.1. 11.2. 11.3. 11.4. 11.5. 11.6. 11.7. 12.1. 12.2. 12.3. 12.4. 12.5. 12.6. 12.7. 13.1. 13.2. 13.3. 13.4. 13.5. 13.6. 14.1. 14.2. 14.3. 14.4. 14.5. 14.6. 14.7. 14.8. 14.9. 14.10. 14.11. A.IX.L AIX.2. AIX.3. A IX.4. AIX.5. A.IX.6. AIX.7. A.IX.8. AIX.9. AIX.10. AIX.11. A.IX.12. AIX.13.

Distribution of Type 2224, cafe hemispherical bowl .............................. . Distribution of Type 2222, micaceous cafe olla ................................. . Distribution of Type 2223, graphite-on-orange ................................. . Distribution of Type 5007, polychrome ........................................ . Period V grid squares with maize deficits in normal years ....................... . Terrain in the mountain survey tract ........................................ . Dispersed modern village in the mountain zone ............................... . Location of mountain survey tract with respect to other archeological surveys ......... . Monte Alban Early I settlements in the mountain survey tract .................... . Monte Alban Late I and II settlements in the mountain survey tract ................ . Monte Alban IIIB-IV settlements in the mountain survey tract .................... . Monte Alban V settlements in the mountain survey tract ......................... . Defensible sites, Monte Alban Early I ....................................... . Defensible sites, Monte Alban Late I ........................................ . Defensible sites, Monte Alban II ............................................ . Defensible sites, Monte Alban IlIA .......................................... . Defensible sites, Monte Alban I1IB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Defensible sites, Monte Alban IV ........................................... . Defensible sites, Monte Alban V ............................................ . Frequencies of values of the Index of Formality, architecture sample ............... . Histograms of site categories, architecture sample ............................. . Scatter diagram, average population by mound volume, IlIA, all sites in the architecture sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................... . Scatter diagram, average population by mound volume, IlIA, non-terrace sites in the architecture sample ................................................. . Scatter diagram, average population by mound volume, IlIA, terrace sites in the architecture sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . Frequency of sites with an Index of Orientation Dominance greater than .8, architecture sample ...................................................... . Land use map .......................................................... . Changes in potential population, dry year potential population, and actual population ............................................................. . Distribution of grid squares with high chi square values in the Rosario phase, Early I, Late I, and II ..................................................... . Distribution of grid squares with high chi square values in Monte Alban IlIA, IIIB, IV, and V .......................................................... . Distribution of MPCAs, Early I through V ..................................... . Distribution of MPCAs, Tierras Largas through Rosario phases ................... . Surplus and deficit production by subregion, Rosario phase through Monte Alban V .... . Distribution of dependent people in valley-wide dry year, Tierras Largas phase through Late I .......................................................... . Distribution of dependent people in valley-wide dry year, Monte Alban II through V .... . Monte Alban support zone in Early I, Late I, II, IlIA, and I1IB ...................... . Support zones of largest sites in Period V ..................................... . CE-TLX-TLX-11 (4-11-23) ................................................. . CE-TLX-TLX-19 (4-7-1) .................................................. . ET-ET-ET-3 (1-9-177, 1-11-273) ............................................ . ET-GE-SJM-1 San Jose Mogote (1-7-84) ...................................... . ET-HU-HU-1 (1-10-12) .................................................. . ET-MA-MA-1 (1-9-145) .................................................. . ET-MAZ-MAZ-1 (1-11-132) ............................................... . ET-MAZ-MAZ-2 (1-5-13) ................................................. . ET-NE-NE-4 (1-6-121,1-7-68) ............................................. . ET-RE-RE-1 (1-9-181) ................................................... . ET-RE-SL-1 (1-8-26,1-9-173,174) ........................................... . ET-SA-SA-2 (1-6-199) ................................................... . ET-SA-SA-3 (1-6-198, 1-9-277) ............................................. . XUl

360 361 362 363 365 368 369 373 375 377 379 381 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 432 433

441 441 442

443

461 463 471

472 474 475

481 485 486 490 503 1042 1044 1044

1045 1046

1047 1048 1049 1049 1050

1051 1051 1052

MONTE ALBAN'S HINTERLAND AIX.14. AIX.15. AIX.16. AIX.17. AIX.18. AIX.19. AIX.20. AIX.21. AIX.22. AIX.23. AIX.24. AIX.25. AIX.26. AIX.27. AIX.28. AIX.29. AIX.30. AIX.31. AIX.32. AIX.33. AIX.34. AIX.35. AIX.36. AIX.37. AIX.38. AIX.39. AIXAO. AIXA1. AIXA2. AIXA3. AIXA4. AIXA5. AIXA6. AIXA7. AIX.48. AIXA9. AIX.50. A IX. 51. AIX.52. AIX.53. AIX.54. AIX.55. AIX.56. AIX.57. AIX.58. AIX.59. AIX.60. AIX.61. AIX.62. AIX.63. AIX.64. AIX.65. AIX.66. AIX.67. AIX.68. AIX.69. AIX.70.

ET-SA-SA-4 (1-6-157,1-7-94,1-9-200) ........................................ . ET-SAZ-SAZ-2 (1-11-89) .................................................. . ET-SE-ES-1 (1-11-332) ................................................... . ET-SFT-SF'l'-6 (1-7-25) .................................................. . ET-SFT-SF'l'-19,20 (1-7-35,36) ............................................. . ET-SJB-SG-1 (1-9-196) ................................................... . ET-SJB-SJB-1 (1-6-113,1-7-65,1-9-184) ....................................... . ET-SJB-SJB-2 (1-9-155,1-11-246,247,248) ..................................... . ET-SLC-GH-1 (1-9-229) .................................................. . ET-SLC-SLC-1 (1-8-66) ................................................... . ET-SLC-MAT-1 (1-8-54) .................................................. . ET-SS-SS-1 (1-8-1,2,3,1-9-26) ............................................. . ET-SS-TL-1 (1-9-125) .................................................... . OC-SAZ-SAZ-1 (5-7-25) .................................................. . OC-SCM-SCM-1 (5-6-14,5-7-6,5-8-37) ........................................ . OC-SD-LS-7 (5-8-48) ..................................................... . OC-SJT-PG-9 (5-8-93) .................................................... . OC-STJ-SCJ-1 (4-8-92, 4-11-141) ............................................ . OC-TIL-TIL-1 (5-8-43) ................................................... . OC-TIL-TIL-4 (5-8-41, 5-11-44) ............................................. . TL-MAT-MAT-10 (4-6-158,4-7-200) ......................................... . TL-MAT-MAT-81 (4-8-454) ............................................... . TL-MIT-MIT-2 Mitla (4-11-699) ........................................... . TL-MIT-MIT-2 Mitla, detail of terraced area ................................. . TL-MIT-MIT-2 Mitla, detail of the palaces ................................... . TL-MIT-MIT-35 (4-11-688) ................................................ . TL-MT-MT-3 (4-8-226) ................................................... . TL-MT-MT-15 (4-11-379) ................................................. . TL-SAV-SAV-1, 2, TL-TEO-TEO-4 (4-10-127, 128, 130) ........................... . TL-SAV-SAV-9 (4-10-124,4-11-406) ......................................... . TL-SBQ-SBQ-10 (4-8-388) ................................................. . TL-SJG-SJG-11 (4-5-29) .................................................. . TL-SJG-SJG-100 (4-6-81,4-7-88,4-8-174) ...................................... . TL-SJL-SJL-22 (4-11-305) ................................................. . TL-SJT-SJT-6 (4-11-114) ................................................. . TL-SJT-SJT-6 (4-11-114) detail showing terraces .............................. . TL-SJT-SJT-11 (4-7-105) ................................................. . TL-SJT-SJT-20 (4-7-38,4-11-128, 129) ........................................ . TL-SJT-SJT-50 (4-8-91, 4-10-39, 4-11-140) ..................................... . TL-SLA-SLA-2 (4-10-276) ................................................. . TL-SLQ-SLQ-3 (4-6-139,4-7-181) ........................................... . TL-SLQ-SLQ-8 (4-8-415,4-11-628) .......................................... . TL-SST-SST-23 (4-11-887) ................................................ . TL-TCH-MAC-1 (4-8-133,162,4-10-67) ...................................... . TL-TCH-MAC-1 Macuilxochitl, detail of structures coded for Period IV ............. . TL-TCH-TCH-50 (4-8-163, 4-9-13) .......................................... . TL-TEO-TEO-5 (4-10-120,4-11-401) ........................................ . TL-TEO-TEO-27 (4-6-53,4-7-49) ........................................... . TL-TEO-TEO-29 (4-8-104,4-11-161) ........................................ . TL-TL-TL-29 north half (4-11-492, 497) ..................................... . TL-TL-TL-29 south half ................................................. . TL-TL-TL-29 (4-11-492) Yagul palaces ..................................... . TL-VDO-SMV-1 (4-6-144) ................................................ . TL-VDO-SMV-3 (4-10-234,4-11-656,662) .................................... . TL-VDO-VDO-11 (4-10-159,4-11-421) ....................................... . TL-VDO-VDO-12 and 13 (4-11-665) ........................................ . ZI-SIY-SIY-1 (5-8-128) Santa Ines Yatzeche .................................. . XLV

1052 1053 1053 1054 1054 1055 1056 1056

1057 1058

1059 1060

1061 1062 1062

1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1066

1067 1068

1070 1071 1072 1073 1073 1074 1076 1077 1078 1078 1079 1080 1080

1081 1081 1082 1083 1084 1084 1085 1086 1088 1090 1092

1092 1093 1094

1095 1096

1097 1098 1099 1100 1101

MAPS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Valley Valley Valley Valley Valley Valley Valley Valley

of Oaxaca Settlements in the Rosario Phase of Oaxaca Settlements, Monte Alban Early I of Oaxaca Settlements, Monte Alban Late I of Oaxaca Settlements, Monte Alban II of Oaxaca Settlements, Monte Alban IlIA of Oaxaca Settlements, Monte Alban IIIB of Oaxaca Settlements, Monte Alban IV of Oaxaca Settlements, Monte Alban V

PlATES

I.

II. III. IV.

Landsat image of the central part of the state of Oaxaca, from Huajuapan to Tlacolula, Cuicatlan to Zenzontepec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aerial view of the Dainzu-Macuilxochitl area ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . Aerial view of San Juan Teitipac ................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aerial view of Mitla ............................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

xv

.. .. .. ..

. . . .

13 232 244 323

PREFACE

The goal of the Valley of Oaxaca Settlement Pat­ tern Project was a complete and systematic archaeo­ logical survey of the entire Valley of Oaxaca. With the publication of earlier works and the present vol­ umes, the goal has been accomplished. During the research that went into this volume we have operated within a field of tension created by the opposing forces of historical or regional particular­ ism and general theory that doesn't work or is mean­ inglessly abstract. We also labored with archaeolog­ ical data that are incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable--yet surprisingly rich, informative, and ground-breaking. At times mastering the amount of archaeological information and its intellectual chal­ lenges has been like trying to move Popocatepetl to Iowa, with a garden trowel. But it has been the most exciting thing we could do in anthropology. These volumes are a record of the information we gathered in the field and our interpretations. They are intended to be studied and used for a long time. We have tried to make this as easy as possible with our limited resources. We hope that ten or a hundred years from now data such as these will help people understand the Valley of Oaxaca and cultural evolu­ tion a lot better than they do now. We are grateful for the support given to the Valley of Oaxaca Settlement Pattern Project by the National Science Foundation. NSF provided the bulk of the funds for the overall project, including the 1971-1973 "Monte Alban Survey and Mapping Project" (GS28547 and GS-38030, to Blanton) and the 1977 "Valle Grande Settlement Pattern Project" (BNS-19640, to Blanton). Kowalewski was principal investigator of the "Tlacolula Valley Settlement Pattern Project" (BNS-7914124), for which $104,362 was granted by NSF for fieldwork in 1980. Other necessary support was provided by the Social Science Research Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Coun­ cil of Canada, the City University of New York, Pur­ due University, the University of Arizona, the Uni­ versity of Georgia, Arizona State University, and the University of Wisconsin. Authority to carry out

fieldwork, and valuable assistance, was granted by the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia and the Centro Regional de Oaxaca, directed by Ma­ nuel Esparza, then Rogelio Gonzalez, and Ma. de la Luz Topete. We thank the many members of our 1980 field crew: Jennifer Cox, Michael Elam, Sheila Greaves, Ben Fischler, Barbara Macnider, Charles McNutt, Everardo Olivera Diaz, Evelio Olivera Mendoza, Fausto Olivera Mendoza, and Sarah Tumblin. In the lab in Athens, Georgia, we were assisted by Michael Elam, Marc Frank, William Ramsey, and Laura Tolleson. We thank Julie Barnes Smith and Gisela Weis for drafting most of the figures, and Sinden Harrison for help in production. Many colleagues have given us encouragement and welcome advice, including Kent V. Flannery, Michael D. Lind, Arthur D. Murphy, John Paddock, Ronald Spores, Greg Veeck, Cecil Welte, Marcus C. Winter, and especially Joyce Marcus, for her com­ ments on the entire manuscript. Richard Blanton was assisted in the completion of the architecture chapter by the Department of Sociolo­ gy and Anthropology, Purdue University, and by a grant from the Joint Committee on Latin American Studies of the Social Science Research Council of Learned Studies, with funds provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Ford Founda­ tion, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. For aid in the preparation of illustrations he thanks Lyn­ ette Norr, Patricia Alleyne, and Marta Pinto. Typing assistance was provided by Mariko Knox. Useful comments on an earlier draft of the chapter were made by Gary Feinman, Laura Finsten, Steve Kowa­ lewski, and Amos Rapoport. Linda Nicholas acknowledges the support that she received in the preparation of her chapter from the Department of Anthropology, University of Wiscon­ sin, Madison. We especially thank the Oaxacans over whose land we walked.

xvii

I

INTRODUCTION

evidence for a relationship on the local scale while another may contest the findings of the first because of apparently contradictory patterns on the regional scale. Both may be correct. The outcome of the argu­ ment, however, should not be a bland compromise or a mere recognition of "exceptions to the general rule", but a better insight into how social systems ac­ tually work. What one should ask is how apparently contradictory relationships can be produced at differ­ ent scales. As with spatial scales of phenomena and analy­ sis, we also must pay attention to temporal scales. Constant awareness of the duration of events can be enormously instructive. An exemplary work that makes conscientious use of different temporal scales for comprehending a vast sea of data is the French so­ cial historian Fernand Braudel's The Mediterrane­ an and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II (1972; Braudel1970 discusses the method). Notions of long-term and short-term processes are common in various disciplines, such as geology, ecology, or economics. Archaeology, strangely, measures time (chronology), but it has not developed any special thinking about controlling or manipulating time. And again, needless disputes arise between scholars arguing from different temporal perspectives. Some examples would be the old argument about the N eo­ lithic revolution vs. evolution, or whether lowland South American settlement systems such as that of the Yanomamo should be considered stable or unsta­ ble. What one should ask is how events of daily im­ portance are related to long-term trends. In the discussion of Oaxaca geography that follows in the next section, the time perspective is that of Braudel's long term. The almost constant features, those of geological duration, are what will concern us. As examples of the more stable long-term con­ stants, consider Oaxaca's landforms and climate. These features are important parameters limiting the range of possible human action in obvious and subtle ways. Movements on the millennial scale are discernible with other factors, such as vegetation cov­ er, erosion, or irrigation agriculture. Still absolutely undetectable at this scale are the particular events en­ gaged in by real human actors--the legendary Mixtec figure Eight Deer journeying from Tilantongo to Tula (Clark 1912), or the careers of individual mar­ ket traders in the Mixe mountains (Beals 1975:393394). Such particular events may constitute institu­ tionalized, regularly-occurring behavior. In the spa­ tial and long-term context, they may illustrate trends and constant constraints. Crucial aspects of the

SCOPE OF THIS STUDY This report describes the results of ar~haeological surveys of the three parts of the Valley of Oaxaca that remained after our surveys and publications cover­ ing Monte Alban (Blanton 1978), and the Central and Valle Grande parts of the Valley (Blanton et al. 1982, hereafter MAHPI). These two previous reports con­ tain most of the data pertaining to those areas. Addi­ tionally, site descriptions for the Central area (Kowa­ lewski 1976) and the ceramic data set for the Central and Valle Grande areas (Feinman 1980) are availa­ ble in dissertation form. An obsidian data set for the whole Valley is in Finsten's dissertation (1983). The basic data for the Etla, OcotIan, and Tlacolula subareas are presented in this report. In earlier pub­ lications the amount of analysis and interpretation was limited by the fact that we had not yet surveyed the whole Valley, although in Monte Alban's Hinter­ land, Part I we did some experimenting with analyti­ cal techniques (some successful, some not). Here we provide more analysis and interpretation of the settlement patterns for the whole Valley. In the present study we integrate the data from all five Val­ ley survey areas, plus Monte Alban, and state our project conclusions. The plan of the book is as follows. In this first chapter we present some aspects of our theoretical and methodological approach, a look at Oaxaca geogra­ phy, a description of field and lab techniques, and an overview of the "surface archaeology" of the Valley. The next nine chapters (II-X) describe the settlement patterns phase by phase. Chapters XI-XIV cover spe­ cial topics (settlement patterns in the surounding mountains, defensive sites, architecture, and land use). The last chapter presents our general conclu­ sions. The appendices present data in raw, tabular, and graphic form. SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SCALES Human and environmental processes operate on different spatial scales. To identify these processes one must conscientiously specifY the spatial extent of the phenomena one studies. Failure to keep this in mind may lead to confusion. This dictum is nothing new, and our approach here is like that of many ge­ ographers (Haggett 1972; Blanton et al. 1981). Keeping spatial scale in mind helps avoid some of the disputes that seemingly never disappear in ar­ chaeology. For example, one researcher may have 1

MONTE ALBAN'S HINTERLAND

2

meaning of particular events only become apparent with comprehension of their place in the long run. Clearly, a satisfying understanding of change will not come from simply stringing together in chronological order even the most scrupulously docu­ mented specific events. That would be historical par­ ticularism at its worst. Neither would a knowledge of climate or geomorphological trends give us a very satisfying explanation of human history, because such ponderous movements usually ignore variabili­ ty and the potential for different kinds of human re­ sponses. Truth or explanatory priority thus do not perma­ nently reside in anyone of these time scales, the long or the short run, or the middle, for that matter. But in­ sights can be gained by examination of trends and events proper to a number of different temporal scales, first separately and then in relationship one to another.

From what has just been said about no single tem­ poral scale holding a monopoly on causality or sig­ nificance, it is logical that one kind of diachronic study alone will not suffice. The archaeological time scale used in this report has phases lasting an aver­ age of 265 years (Table 1.1), somewhere between the geologically long term and the consciousness of in­ dividuals who do not have access to an accurate his­ torical record. This scale is neither inappropriate be­ cause its phases are "too long," nor is it by itself all that will ultimately be necessary for a good under­ standing of the evolution of Valley of Oaxaca society. Because of its 3,OOO-year sequence of eleven phases, our archaeological time perspective has advantages, in that some processes otherwise undetectable even in the best historically-documented societies are available for scrutiny. We would of course welcome further chronologi­ cal refinement, since that would let us see move-

Table 1.1. Valley of Oaxaca Chronology Date

Phase

Period

1700 1500 1300 1100 900 700 500 300 A.D. 100 100 B.C. 300 500 700 900 1100 1300 1500 1700

Monte Alban V

Late Postclassic

Monte Alban IV

Early Postclassic

Monte Alban IIIB

Late Classic

Monte Alban IlIA

Early Classic

Monte Alban II

Terminal formative

Monte Alban Late I

Late formative

Monte Alban Early I Rosario

Middle formative

Guadalupe San Jose Ti erras Largas

Esp; ri dion

Early formative

INTRODUCTION ments of shorter periodicity than our ca. 265 years. Several archaeologists (e.g. Parsons 1972; Griffin 1978) have called for chronological refinements in settlement pattern studies, citing the need to know which settlements of a region are indeed contempo­ raries, inhabited at precisely the same moment. Al­ though eager for chronological refinements, we would not go to the extreme of saying that the settle­ ment pattern trends and changes seen at the chrono­ logical scale we now have are without meaning or be­ havioral validity. After all, one does not need a stop watch calibrated in nanoseconds to know that the hare is faster than the tortoise, that Teotihuacan was larger than any prior city in the Basin of Mexico, or that the change from Monte Alban IV to V was one of settlement nucleation to dispersal. REGIONS The results reported in this volume are related to the scale of our study area and what this area has meant in behavioral terms. Here we discuss what kind of "region" the Valley of Oaxaca is, and how it is similar to and different from its surroundings. The procedure is to take a broad, synoptic look at a large portion of Western Mesoamerica, to analyze the Valley of Oaxaca within the land around it, to ex­ amine how the Valley appears from the outside, and what the circumambient land looks like from the per­ spective of the Valley. This section is both a geo­ graphical overview of the state of Oaxaca (Figure 1.1) and a description of the Valley of Oaxaca as a region (Figure 1.2). Our intent here is to underscore only certain fea­ tures relevant for understanding the archaeological results. Other specialists, to whom we refer below, have published original accounts more detailed than our necessarily abbreviated interpretation. We will discuss mainly those geographical features pertain­ ing to one of our principal themes in this volume, the existence of a social boundary that throughout history more or less coincided with the topographic limits of the Valley of Oaxaca. What is meant by the term "region"? The region­ al concept is most developed in geography, where it has the paradoxical position of being somehow impor­ tant as a unifier of the discipline, but controversial in that few practitioners agree on what it is, how it is to be applied, or even whether it should be retained as a technical or theoretically significant term. The sim­ ilarity to the status of "culture" in anthropology is ob­ vious. In fact, about the same time that the anthropolo­ gists Kroeber and Kluckhohn (1952) were gathering quite a few disparate definitions of "culture", the As­ sociation of American Geographers appointed a com­ mittee to sharpen the term region as a technical con-

3

cept (Whittlesey 1954). The parallel courses of anthropology and geogra­ phy can be traced into the present, to the 1981 Presi­ dential Address to the American Association of Ge­ ographers by John Fraser Hart (1982) and Kent V. Flannery's Distinguished Lecture to the American Anthropological Association in the same year (Flan­ nery 1982). Both are attempts to reaffirm what these scholars believe to be the basic or traditional mission of their respective fields, the gathering and dissemi­ nating of information about peoples and areas. And both perceived their fields had moved away from this basic mission in the 1960s and 1970s by becoming too concerned with purely methodological or philosophy of science issues. Our kinship with geography is neither fictive nor coincidental. Basically we are doing a regional analysis with time depth. Many of the methods we use are drawn from that field. A thoughtful synthesis on regions is Haggett's text (1975:233-516). A region is simply "any tract of the earth's surface with characteristics, either natural or man-made, that make it different from areas that surround it" (1975:6). Regions, like ecosystems, are units of convenience; they are usually contiguous spaces; they may be of any size; and they may be drawn differently for different purposes. Generally, however, a region has a scale somewhere between that of the single human community (village or city) and a whole continent. We refer to Mesoamerica as a whole as a macrore­ gion, and areas smaller than this, down to the size of a whole highland valley, as regions. We call subdi­ visions of the Valley of Oaxaca subregions, and we use the term locality for areas on a finer scale. Depending on the investigator's purpose, a region may be defined by single or multiple criteria. For ex­ ample, the area over 2000 meters above sea level in­ habited by speakers of the Zapotec language might de­ fine a mountain Zapotec region. Regions may be relatively homogeneous for designated traits. "Functional" regions, defined by networks of inter­ action between points such as cities with different roles to play in a central place hierarchy, may be quite heterogeneous. An instance of a functional re­ gion in Oaxaca is the marketing region described by Beals (1975). The marketing system connects rural and urban areas, mountains and valley, and speak­ ers of different languages. Another type of region is the "nodal" region. This is an area characterized by key features frequently found in a core, and less fre­ quently seen toward the periphery. Thus regional boundaries may vary from fuzzy to abrupt. Functional or nodal regions are situated not on featureless plains but on varied, real terrains. Thus behaviorally defined regions will also have physio­ graphic correlates. The state of Oaxaca and the Val-

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