Mexico

Etlatongo

Formative-period settlement and ballcourt in Oaxaca, Mexico

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Historical Context

About

Etlatongo is an archaeological site in Oaxaca, Mexico. Situated in the Nochixtlán Valley within the Mixteca Alta, Etlatongo encompasses both a Formative Period site, located between two rivers, and a Classic/Post-classic site, on a hill to the north. Etlatongo experienced a sharp population growth beginning in roughly 1150 BCE and lasting for 300 years. It was during this period that trade goods, including figurines, ceramics, and obsidian, including artifacts identified with the Zapotecs, Olmecs, and the Valley of Mexico, enter the archaeological record. Studies of Etlatongo artifacts, including obsidian and pottery, indicate that Etlatongo participated in a wide-ranging trade network. Etlatongo continued to be occupied through the Post-classic period. In 2020, a ballcourt was discovered at Etlatongo, dating to 1374 BCE.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Ancient ballcourt (dated)

1374 BCE

Population expansion begins

c. 1150 BCE

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Public and Civic Structures

BallcourtPlazas
category

Artistic and Decorative Features

FigurinesCeramicsObsidian artifacts
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

VillagesTowns
category

Environmental and Natural Features

HillRivers
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

Mexico

Coordinates

17.44° N, -97.30° E