A Long Architectural Sequence at Teotihuacán

Abstract

A series of superimposed structures spanning the Preclassic, Classic and Postclassic periods was uncovered in 1959 in the Oztoyahualco zone of the ancient city of Teotihuacán in the Valley of Mexico. Superimposed structures spanning so long a period have not previously been found in the Valley. The earliest structures in the sequence are earth floors of the Tzacualli (Teotihuacán I) phase, beneath which were found a number of caches of broken pottery and other objects. These are followed by massive, concrete, ceremonial structures of the Xolalpan (Teotihuacán III) phase and above these are structures built after the fall of Teotihuacán. The nature and distribution of these successive structures is such as to suggest that the locality became sacred in Tzacualli times and maintained this sacred character even after the fall of Teotihuacán. The Tzacualli structures receive primary attention in the discussion because of their importance.

Materiality, regimes of value, and the politics of craft production, exchange, and consumption: A case of lime plaster at Teotihuacan, Mexico

“…Although most structures in this period were razed later and there is no direct evidence from residential structures outside the central precinct, excavations at Tlachinolpan (Blucher, 1971), a complex of Patlachique and Tzacualli phase public structures in the northwestern periphery of the city, revealed no lime plaster. Excavations at the Plaza One revealed earthen floors with no lime plaster, which are dated to the Tzacualli phase (Millon and Bennyhoff, 1961).…”

The Teotihuacan Anomaly: The Historical Trajectory of Urban Design in Ancient Central Mexico

“…Major offerings were placed within each of these structures. Plaza One, a large three-temple group in the northwest part of the city (Figure 4), was probably built at this time (Cowgill, 2015:71;Millon & Bennyhoff, 1961). The key development in city layout was the creation of the Avenue of the Dead, beginning at the Moon Pyramid and extending south for several km.…”

The Teotihuacan Burials and Offerings: A Commentary and Inventory

“…Millon and Bennyhoff (1961;516-517) of five pits along the north side of the south platform revealed a long sequence of occupation from Early Tzacualli to Mazapan times. The important discovery of seven excellent caches of Early Tzacualli ceramics (no human skeletons were present) was made in the deep levels under several earthen floors (Millon 1957(Millon , 1960Millon and Bennyhoff 1961;Millon, Drewitt and Bennyhoff 1965). The floors probably belonged to habitations or simple religious structures of adobe and wattle-and-daub (Millon and Bennyhoff 1961: 516-519).…”

“…29), a complex of temples, patios and rooms located 70m north of Zacuala Palace was excavated by 5ejourne in three seasons from 1958 to 1961(5ejourne 1966aNoguera 1961). Yayahuala is unique compared to other known structures at Teotihuacan because of its broad, high entrance facing west that allows access to a main central patio bordered on three sides by large temples.…”

“…The skeletal remains recovered were studied by physical anthropologist Magali Civera (1983,1989) at the Instituto de Investigaciones Antropol6gicas, UNAM, and relevant data are presented here. Also considered here are the burials and offerings from various earlier excavations at Teotihuacan, as well as those recovered more recently by the Proyecto Arqueol6gico Teotihacan (Linne 1934(Linne , 1942Armillas 1950;Millon and Bennyhoff 1961;Cook de Leonard 1957 a, b, c;Noguera 1955;Muller 1978;Gonzalez y Fuentes 1982;Gonzalez y Salas 1990;Sugiyama 1986Sugiyama , 1989.…”