Pre‐Hispanic and Colonial Flood Plain Destabilization in the Texcoco Region and Lower Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

A study of the flood plains in the eastern Basin of Mexico reveals significant episodes of intense flooding over the past 3000 years, marked by distinct alluvial units and soil horizons. These periods of destabilization correlate with major societal changes: Unit C corresponds to the Formative period's population growth and deforestation, while Unit D aligns with land use shifts during the Late Classic and Early Toltec periods (A.D. 800–1100). A stable phase during the Toltec and Aztec periods is evident in soil S4, whereas Unit E reflects rapid sedimentation during the Spanish Colonial period, likely due to the abandonment of terraces and check dams. Climatic fluctuations may have indirectly influenced these phases, though their direct role remains uncertain. The research combines stratigraphic analysis with historical context to reconstruct environmental and societal dynamics in the Texcoco region and lower Teotihuacan Valley.

Cordova, C. E. (2016). Pre‐Hispanic and Colonial Flood Plain Destabilization in the Texcoco Region and Lower Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico. Geoarchaeology, 32(1), 64–89. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.21550