Before Teotihuacan—Altica, Exchange, Interactions, and the Origins of Complex Society in the Northeast Basin of Mexico

Recent archaeological research at the Early–Middle Formative site of Altica, located in the Teotihuacan Valley, offers new insights into the origins and development of complex society in the region. The study reveals that agricultural villages were established earlier than previously thought, providing a foundation for understanding early social and economic differentiation. By analyzing intra- and interregional exchange networks, the research challenges existing comparative models of political economy. This work sheds light on the dynamic interactions that shaped the development of complex societies in the northeast basin of Mexico before the rise of Teotihuacan.

Nichols, D. L., & Stoner, W. D. (2019). BEFORE TEOTIHUACAN—ALTICA, EXCHANGE, INTERACTIONS, AND THE ORIGINS OF COMPLEX SOCIETY IN THE NORTHEAST BASIN OF MEXICO. Ancient Mesoamerica, 30(2), 369–382. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0956536118000305