Origins of the Nuu: Archaeology in the Mixteca Alta, Mexico

545 Pages·2009·20.51 MB·English

by  Andrew K. Balkansky

O r i g i n s
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O f t h e
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O r i g i n s
Ñ
O f t h e
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archaeology in the Mixteca alta, Mexico
stephen a. Kowalewski t andrew K. Balkansky
laura r. stiver Walsh t thomas J. Pluckhahn t John f. Chamblee
verónica Pérez rodríguez t verenice y. heredia espinoza t Charlotte a. smith
U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s O f C O l O r a d O
© 2009 by the University Press of Colorado
Published by the University Press of Colorado
5589 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206C
Boulder, Colorado 80303
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
The University Press of Colorado is a proud member of
the Association of American University Presses.
The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in part,
by Adams State College, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa State College,
Metropolitan State College of Denver, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado,
and Western State College of Colorado.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American
National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.
ANSI Z39.48-1992
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Origins of the Ñuu : archaeology in the Mixteca Alta, Mexico / Stephen A. Kowalewski . . . [et
al.].
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-87081-929-2 (alk. paper)
1. Mixtec Indians—Origin. 2. Mixtec Indians—History. 3. Mixtec Indians—Antiquities. 4.
Oaxaca (Mexico)—Antiquities. I. Kowalewski, Stephen A.
F1219.8.M59O75 2008
972'.7401—dc22
2008041565
Design by Daniel Pratt
18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To our teacher Ron Spores, in admiration of
his leadership and superlative contributions to
the anthropology of the Mixteca.

Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xix
Preface xxiii
Chapter 1: Regional Study of Ancient Societies in the Mixteca Alta 1
Plan of the Book 3
Origins of Urbanism and the State 4
The Central Mixteca Alta 5
Survey 15
Chapter 2: The Western Nochixtlán Valley 29
Jazmín 30
Nejapilla 43
vii
Yodocono 49
Tidaá 58
Tilantongo 63
Sierra de Nochixtlán 76
Chapter 3: Greater Teposcolula 81
Teposcolula 82
Nuñu 96
Yodobada 109
Yucunama 117
Lagunas 126
Yolomécatl 137
Nduayaco 146
Chapter 4: Greater Huamelulpan 157
Yucuxaco 158
Huamelulpan 165
Tayata 174
Chapter 5: The Inner Basin 183
San Juan Achiutla 184
Achiutla 190
Yucuañe 202
Tlacotepec 210
Amoltepec 223
Magdalena Peñasco 230
Dzinicahua 243
Chapter 6: Greater Tlaxiaco 255
Tlaxiaco Valley 256
The Northeastern Periphery of Tlaxiaco 267
The Southeastern Periphery of Tlaxiaco 272
Nundichi/Ñumi 279
Chapter 7: The Polities of the Early and Middle Formative 285
Archaic 285
Early/Middle Cruz 287
Late Cruz 290
viii w COntents
Chapter 8: The Emergence of Urbanism and the State 297
Early Ramos 297
Late Ramos 303
Chapter 9: The Classic Ñuu 305
Chapter 10: The Postclassic Ñuu 315
Chapter 11: The Ñuu in Anthropological Perspective 331
Survey 331
Formative Societies 334
The Ñuu and the State 337
Regional Abandonments 345
Agrarian Urbanism 346
Chapter 12: Resumen en Español 351
Appendix 1: Ceramic Chronology 359
Early/Middle Cruz 360
Late Cruz 362
Early Ramos 368
Late Ramos 372
Transición Las Flores 372
Early Las Flores 376
Late Las Flores 379
Natividad 379
Appendix 2: Flaked and Ground Stone 387
References Cited 395
Tables 407
Index 501
COntents w ix