Revised Chronology and Settlement History of Tula and the Tula Region

Abstract

This article offers a revision of the chronology and settlement history of Tula, Hidalgo, synthesizing information obtained from numerous investigations and 68 radiocarbon and seven archaeomagnetic dates. Tula Chico's earliest settlement appeared while the region was under the control of Teotihuacan as one of many hilltop Coyotlatelco settlements in the region. The monumental center at Tula Grande did not appear until after Tula grew to power, presumably with the consolidation of the other Coyotlatelco polities. Extensive exposure of residential structures in numerous localities have revealed a widespread pattern of barrios containing households exhibiting a wide range of social status that enjoyed access to a wide variety of luxury items including the first reported objects of gold. Tula Grande and the Tollan phase city appear to have already been abandoned and in ruins prior to the arrival of Aztec II peoples. The Late Aztec period occupation shows a preoccupation with Tula's ruins that parallels similar evidence from the Templo Mayor excavations suggesting it was indeed the place the Aztecs called Tollan.

Ceramic Sequence, Chronology, and Cultural Dynamics of the Ucareo-Zinapécuaro, Michoacán Obsidian Source Area

“…The only notable discrepancy involved the Cumbres phase, which dated considerably later in time than expected, but the mutually exclusive occurrence of Cumbres vis-à-vis the other ceramic complexes allowed it to be moved upward in time without affecting the dating of the other phases.

Figure 8.Ceramic sequence and chronology for the U-Z source area incorporating the results of radiocarbon dating, compared to the sequences for Acámbaro (Gorenstein 1985), the Zacapu Basin (Jadot 2016), the Pátzcuaro Basin (Pollard 2018), Teotihuacan (Cowgill 1996; Nichols 2016; Rattray 2001; Sanders et al 1979), and Tula (Healan et al 2021).

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“…Ceramic sequence and chronology for the U-Z source area incorporating the results of radiocarbon dating, compared to the sequences for Acámbaro (Gorenstein 1985), the Zacapu Basin (Jadot 2016), the Pátzcuaro Basin (Pollard 2018), Teotihuacan (Cowgill 1996; Nichols 2016; Rattray 2001; Sanders et al 1979), and Tula (Healan et al 2021). …”

Droughts during the last 2000 years in a tropical sub‐humid environment in central Mexico

“…Xochicalco declined and was abandoned during the early Postclassic ( ad 900–1100), a fate shared by most Epiclassic city‐states across Mesoamerica (Aimers and Hodell 2011, Santley et al 1986). Nevertheless, in the Basin of Mexico, the city‐state of Tula (Figure 1a) reached its apogee during the early Postclassic period, collapsing around ad 1200 (Healan et al 2021). During the late Classic the Aztec Empire ( ad 1325–1521), with its capital city Tenochtitlan (Figure 1b), became the dominant power in the Basin of Mexico and over a great area in Mesoamerica, until the arrival of the Spanish.…”

Use of the Little-Known Local Obsidian Source of Ojo Zarco at La Magdalena in Guanajuato, Mexico

“…Compositional and petrographic analyses on Thin Orange ceramics in the Bajío have mostly produced evidence of local imitations (Faugère et al 2019), but ceramic/chronological work has suggested 1986) or to the northwest in regions like the Bajío (Manzanilla 2005). No matter its origin, Coyotlatelco is associated with the earliest occupations at Tula (Healan et al 2021) and elsewhere. A neutron activation analysis (NAA) study of Coyotlatelco manufacture confirmed local production and the presence of "important subregional stylistic and morphological differences" (Crider et al 2007:139).…”

“…Phase III includes major site modifications. Ceramics include Red-on-buff and White Brushed traditions that are similar to Red-on-buff and Blanco Levantado at Tula dated to the Terminal Corral phase (about AD 900; Healan et al 2021). A type of Red-on-buff ceramic known as Coyotlatelco is broadly hypothesized to have originated either in the Basin of Mexico (Sanders 1986) or to the northwest in regions like the Bajío (Manzanilla 2005).…”