Middle Formative period
E687638
The Middle Formative period was a key Mesoamerican era (roughly 900–400 BCE) marked by the growth of early urban centers, increasing social complexity, and the florescence of cultures such as the Olmec.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Middle Formative period canonical | 1 |
Statements (62)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Mesoamerican cultural period
ⓘ
archaeological period ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs | Middle Preclassic period NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| appliesToJurisdiction | Mesoamerica NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| economicActivity |
bean and squash cultivation
ⓘ
maize agriculture ⓘ marine shell trade ⓘ obsidian trade ⓘ salt production and exchange ⓘ |
| endTime | circa 400 BCE ⓘ |
| fieldOfStudy | Mesoamerican archaeology ⓘ |
| followedBy | Late Formative period ⓘ |
| follows | Early Formative period ⓘ |
| hasCharacteristic |
development of early writing or proto-writing in some regions
ⓘ
development of regional chiefdoms ⓘ emergence of regional art styles ⓘ expansion of long-distance trade networks ⓘ growth of early urban centers ⓘ increased social stratification ⓘ increased use of jade and other prestige goods ⓘ increasing social complexity ⓘ intensification of agriculture ⓘ monumental architecture ⓘ public ceremonial complexes ⓘ widespread use of ceramics ⓘ |
| hasNotableSite |
Ceibal
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Cerro de las Mesas NERFINISHED ⓘ Chalcatzingo NERFINISHED ⓘ Cuicuilco NERFINISHED ⓘ El Mirador region NERFINISHED ⓘ El Opeño NERFINISHED ⓘ Izapa NERFINISHED ⓘ Kaminaljuyú NERFINISHED ⓘ La Blanca NERFINISHED ⓘ La Venta NERFINISHED ⓘ Las Bocas NERFINISHED ⓘ Monte Albán NERFINISHED ⓘ Nakbé NERFINISHED ⓘ San José Mogote NERFINISHED ⓘ San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán NERFINISHED ⓘ Takalik Abaj NERFINISHED ⓘ Tlatilco NERFINISHED ⓘ Tres Zapotes NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| hasSignificantCulture |
Central Mexican highlands cultures
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Epi-Olmec culture NERFINISHED ⓘ Gulf Coast cultures ⓘ Maya culture NERFINISHED ⓘ Olmec civilization NERFINISHED ⓘ Valley of Oaxaca cultures NERFINISHED ⓘ Zapotec culture NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| partOf | Formative period ⓘ |
| religiousCharacteristic |
construction of sacred precincts
ⓘ
development of complex ritual systems ⓘ use of ritual offerings in caches ⓘ |
| startTime | circa 900 BCE ⓘ |
| temporalContext | first millennium BCE ⓘ |
| typicalArchitecture |
earthen platform mounds
ⓘ
plaza-centered site layouts ⓘ stone sculptures and altars ⓘ |
| typicalArt |
Olmec-style monumental heads
ⓘ
incised and painted ceramics ⓘ jade figurines and ornaments ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.