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EPICLASSIC
A. Teotihuacan
1. remained a major center into 9th and perhaps 10th centuries
2. Coyotlatelco Phase
a) defined by the appearance of a red-on-buff pottery
b) beginning is based on a guess date of AD 750
1) may be a bit earlier
c) population suggested at 30,000 - 40,000
1) may be too high
2) still the largest center in the Basin of Mexico
a> next largest may have been about 12,000
3) may have been one of the largest in Mesoamerica
a> Tikal had about 50,000
d) obsidian and ceramic production continues
B. Cholula
1. Location
a) 12 km west of Puebla
2. History
a) excavations began in 1931
3. Olmeca-Xicalanca
a) appears that they "took over" Cholula around AD 650
b) thought to have come from the Gulf Coast
c) stability of city and trade benefit to Teotihuacan disrupted
1) this contributed to the downfall of Teotihuacan
d) capital established at Cacaxtla
1) controlled region southwest of Tlaxcala
e) expelled by AD 850, perhaps by Poyauhteca Chichimecs
4. Great Pyramid
a) looks like a natural hill
b) used and rebuilt for nearly 2000 years
1) five phases of architectural superposition
2) Late Preclassic or Early Classic
a> oldest structure faces west
b> rests on a base 120 m square
c> built of regular bricks and covered with limestone mixture
d> architectural style typical of Teotihuacan II
1> traces of butterflies painted on the walls
3) next building consists of nine sections with sloping walls
a> 180 m sq at base and 35 m tall
4) present size
a> 350 m sq at base and may have been 100 m tall
b> Pyramid of the Sun is 222 X 225 m at base and 63 m tall
5) ended with Colonial church built on its summit
a> Nuestra Se§ora de los Remedios
c) explored by Mexican National Institute of Anthropology
5. Patio of the Altars
a) south of the Great Pyramid
b) Altar 1
1) horizontal slab with bas-reliefs on sides
2) rests on stela set vertically in the ground
a> 4 m high with base about 2 m sq
b> narrow border design of interlocking scrolls
1> otherwise perfectly smooth
c) Altar 2
1) slab with carving around the edges standing on a raised base
6. Early Classic
a) paintings covered the talud-tablero exterior
b) stucco works show major drinking rites
c) Kubler suggests that the painters were drinking themselves
1) execution gets increasingly sloppy in the later frames
d) talus is longer and more sloping than those at Teotihuacan
1) suggests different ethnic population
7. Late Classic (AD 450-700)
8. Postclassic
a) lacquered ware (codex-type)
1) decorated with scenes similar to Mixtec manuscripts
b) Bernal Diaz states that Motecuhzoma at only from Cholula
pottery
1) wares were far superior to the Aztec product
9. Conquest
a) Nahua speakers occupied the site
C. Xochicalco
1. "place of the house of flowers"
2. Location
a) 15 km southwest of Cuernavaca
b) in a valley at 1500 m about sea level
c) monuments stand on hills about 130 m above the valley
d) extends 1200 m north to south and 700 m east to west
e) topography of hill altered to create a series of stepped
terraces reinforced by stone walls
1) paved road links ruins on two separate hills
3. History
a) discovered by Spanish (mentioned by Sahagun in 1570)
b) existence made public in 1791
c) explored during the 19th century
d) more recent research by Ken Hirth
4. Prehistory
a) one of the first independent urban centers to appear during
the Epiclassic period
5. Militarism
a) primary defencses provided by hilltop location
b) terraces and platforms have long, downslope facades
c) site divided into multiple, defensive compartments
d) small fortified precincts established within 1 km of site
e) barrier walls, ramparts, dry moats, and trenches
1) some moats and trenches cut into bedrock up to 3 m
6. Temple of the Feathered Serpents (Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent)
a) pyramidal structure on a nearly square base (18.6 X 21 m)
1) talud surmounted by tablero-like panel
2) topped with cornice
3) temple proper located on top, but all that remains are wall
that form a structure 10 m along the sides
4) stairway of 14 steps on west side
b) considered one of most beautiful building in Central Mexico
1) walls of base bear sculpted images of the feathered serpent
a> heads are at corners while tails meet to form central motif
2) symbols of fire and seated figures in ornamented clothing
3) monument was probably built to commemorate an important
event
c) images of warriors carrying shields and spears
1) most of figures on masonry temple on top
2) 12 armed warriors depicted
d) recurrent theme on tablero is seated figure holdings bag and
facing glyphic elements (open mouth and four-part circle)
1) year signs in headdresses
2) may portray warrior cult
e) glyphs may be place names
7. Ball Court
a) predecessor to one of similar design at Tula
b) court measures 69 X 9 m
c) flanked by two gigantic banquettes
1) rise at sides to meet the walls where the playing rings are
attached
8. Other buildings
a) Palace (Building B)
b) Building A
1) pyramidal structure of two superimposed sections
2) group of chambers made of clay and sun-dried brick decorated
with smooth pillars
D. Cacaxtla
1. identified as capital of the Olmeca-Xicalanca
2. Murals
a) History
1) discovered in 1975
b) probably date to around AD 600-750
c) mixture of styles and motifs from the Maya, Teotihuacan,
Xochicalco, Oaxaca, and the Gulf Coast
d) Structure A
1) calm and tranquil
2) four full figures are depicted
e) Structure B
1) graphic scenes of bloody conflict
2) only one pair of warriors continues to fight
3) scene is not of a battle, but its aftermath
a> blood glyphs abound
3. McVicker interprets figures as "Mayanized Mexicans" who went
from Teotihuacán to the Gulf Coast and then returned
(Nonoalcas?)
a) reflect "Mayanization" of Mexican precursors of the Toltec
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