Proyecto Río Verde, 2003: Report on Excavations at Yugüe

Introduction

The PRV03 excavations constituted part of an ongoing study of state development and social organization during the earliest period of statehood in the lower Río Verde valley, Oaxaca, México (Figure 1). By the Terminal Formative Period (150 B.C.–A.D. 250; Table 1, shown below), a regional polity had developed in the lower Verde with a center at the 200-hectare site of Río Viejo. Recent excavations by Joyce at Río Viejo demonstrated the existence of a Terminal Formative urban center with massive earthen platforms supporting public ceremonial structures (Barber and Joyce 2002). The organization of this polity has remained unclear, however, due to a lack of data from Terminal Formative Period contexts.

A primary objective of the PRV03 was to obtain much needed Terminal Formative archaeological materials that would enable a study of early state development and organization in the lower Río Verde valley. To this end, the site of Yugüe was chosen for excavation. Previous research had shown that Yugüe was occupied from the Late Formative Period Minizundo Phase (400–150 B.C.) until the Late Terminal Formative Period Chacahua Phase (A.D. 100–250; Barber n.d.). No Classic or Postclassic Period occupation was identified, meaning that the Terminal Formative materials were close to the surface and accessible through shallow horizontal excavation. Excavation at Yugüe was also deemed necessary because the site is threatened by modern construction.

Table of Contents  |  Next Page