Postclassic Urbanism at Calixtlahuaca: Reconstructing the Unpublished Excavations of José García Payón
Vea este informe en Español.
Printable version

Research Year:  2002
Culture:  Tarascan
Chronology:  Post Classic
Location:  Toluca, México
Site:  Calixtlahuaca

Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
García Payón’s Excavations
Grant-Funded Activities
The Ceramics of Calixtlahuaca
Summary
List of Figures
Sources Cited

Abstract

The Postclassic city of Calixtlahuaca was a power political capital in the Toluca Valley in the western portion of the State of México (Figure 1). Between 1930 and 1938, archaeologist José García Payón conducted excavations at the Calixtlahuaca archaeological site. He excavated and restored a number of large monumental structures and excavated a series of burials with rich associated offerings. Although García Payón published some of his results, he never conducted a thorough analysis of the materials nor published detailed data on the excavations or offerings. In this project I conducted an analysis of more than 1,000 ceramic vessels and hundreds of other objects from the Calixtlahuaca offerings. I searched–in vain–for García Payón’s unpublished notes and catalogs. I also analyzed Postclassic ceramic vessels from other sites in the Toluca Valley, including Teotenango and Calimaya.

Submitted 01/12/2003 by:
Michael E. Smith
University at Albany, SUNY
mesmith@csc.albany.edu

Next Page

Return to top of page