1. Ancient Civilizations of the Americas Lecture 11
The Basin of Mexico in the Early Classic

2. The Culture of Teotihuacan
The Political System
“Arrival” (entrada) of Siyaj K’ak (“Fire Born”) at El Perú (Guatemala) on Jan. 23rd, 378 AD.
at Tikal (Guatemala) on Jan. 31st 378 AD.
Chak Tok Ich’aak, king of Tikal, “enters the water” (dies) on the same day. Tikal monuments are destroyed.

3. Siyaj K’ak’ installs a Teotihuacano leader,at Uaxactun, Tikal in 379, at Bejuca in 381, and at Rio Azul in 383, and possibly at Palenque.
Tikal Stela 32
The Marcador text at Tikal refers to Spearthrower Owl, who’s date of accession is given in 374 AD.

4. Leader installed at Tikal is a son of Spearthrower Owl named Yax Nuun Ayiin. Siyaj K’ak’ rules as regent.
The Marcador from Tikal, dated to 413 AD.

5. Stela 31, Tikal atlatl Mosaic monster mask
Spearthrower Owl’s death is given as 439 AD.
Flexible shield with Tlaloc image

7. Foreign influences at Teotihuacan
Fragment of Mayan hieroglyphic text – deity impersonation.
Compound possibly occupied by Maya

10. Quetzalpapálotl Palace

12. Teotihuacan’s Religion
From the Plaza of the Moon
Teotihuacan’s Religion
Gods: The Great Goddess
Mural from Tepantitla

13. Nauhtl: Ololiuhqui aka Datura

14. Bottom portion of Tepantitla mural

20. Pyramid of the Sun
Originally excavated and reconstructed by Leopoldo Batres.
Constructed over a cave that ends in four lobes. Pyramid construction began 100 AD.
Consists of four stages, 63m high.
Caches have been recently discovered.

22. Tlaloc

23. Xipe Totec
The Flayed One

24. Jaguar eating a human heart
World-renowned Mesoamerican religion expert on assignment at Teotihuacan in 1964
Jaguar eating a human heart

26. Blood Sacrifice

27. The Potential Languages of Teotihuacan

28. Teotihuacan symbols

29. year
venus

30. Teotihuacan Economics: Entrepot Sites/Ports of Trade:
Matacapan

31. Thin Orange Pottery – Made in the Tepexi Region, Puebla

32. Teotihuacano Markets:
The Great Marketplace
The Merchant’s Barrio
Circular dwellings
High frequency of
Veracruz-style pottery
The Oaxacan Barrio
Tlailotlacan AD

33. Craft Production during the Middle Horizon 200-750 AD
Teotihuacan is organized into compounds.
Craft production is localized in compounds
600 workshops found to date
12% of the cities’ population is involved in obsidian production

34. “Theater” Incense braizers were made in the ciudadela.

35. Teotihuacan’s Collapse
Teotihuacan’s influence on centers beyond the basin of Mexico had ended by 600 AD.
The city center was destroyed around AD 700.
A much reduced population continued to exist for another two centuries in the city, a phase called Coyotlatelco.
The collapse could have been brought on by deforestation (to make plaster) or increased aridity.
Oaxacan Barrio excavated in 1992 by Michael Spence, Merchant’s Barrio excavated in 1990 by Evelyn Rattray