Measuring the Long Arm of the State: Teotihuacan's Relations in the Basin of Mexico

Abstract

The city of Teotihuacan has long been viewed as a primate center, dominating surrounding settlements in the Basin of Mexico politically and economically, but its specific relationships with subordinate polities are not well understood. In this article I consider the diverse roles that two rural settlements played in the intraregional structure of the Teotihuacan state. Specifically, I investigate differences in architecture and ceramic assemblages at Axotlan, in the Cuauhtitlan region to the west, and Cerro Portezuelo, in the Texcoco region to the south. Results of this research demonstrate that Teotihuacan's relationships with smaller settlements in the Basin of Mexico differed considerably in intensity and changed through time. This variation reflects specific administrative and economic strategies crafted by the state as well as varying degrees of political and economic autonomy among rural settlements.

Teotihuacan

“…No residences, contemporary with Teotihuacan, however, were excavated, but poorly preserved Teotihuacan-style murals decorated the platform (Clayton 2013;Hicks 2013;Nichols et al 2013;Nicholson and Hicks 1961). Most Teotihuacan-style pottery at the site was made in the southeast Basin, but Cerro Portezuelo also imported ceramics from Teotihuacan and the western Basin, probably from Azcapotzalco where composition studies indicate Teotihuacan-style pottery also was produced (Clayton 2013;García 2002García , 2004Ma 2003;Nichols et al 2013). Cerro Portezuelo imported obsidian from Michoacán and Pachuca in the Teotihuacan period (Parry and Glasock 2013).…”

“…374, 403). Compositional studies of ceramics indicate market exchange between regional centers in the Basin of Mexico, as well as with Teotihuacan (Clayton 2013;Nichols et al 2013). argued that barrio centers organized as noble houses of intermediate elites perhaps oikos economies centered on patron-client relations.…”

“…Recent compositional studies show there were multiple ceramic-production zones in the Basin of Mexico that made Teotihuacan-style pottery. Azcapotzalco, the next largest regional center in the Basin, and Cerro Portezuelo, a minor center in the southeast Basin of Mexico, both manufactured pottery similar to that produced at Teotihuacan (Branstetter-Hardesty 1978;Clayton 2013;Ma 2003;Nichols et al , 2013. Portezuelo was first occupied in the Late Formative and likely was not founded by Teotihuacan (Clayton 2013;Nichols et al 2013).…”

“…García (2002;García et al 2005) directed excavations at Axotlan, a site near Cuauhtitlan in the northwestern Basin of Mexico that Sanders (Sanders and Gorenflo 2007;Sanders et al 1979) designated a Teotihuacan administrative center because of the presence of Teotihuacan-style apartment compounds. Artifacts, architecture, rituals, and burial practices show close ties to Teotihuacan, probably because of its interest in the permanent irrigation sources of the area (Clayton 2007(Clayton , 2013García et al 2005;Nichols 1980). Biogenetic analyses of burials would contribute to better understanding of the founding of Axotlan and other regional centers and their relationship to Teotihuacan.…”

“…The rural compounds, however, did not all follow the Teotihuacan grid orientation, in contrast to the compounds at Axotlan, perhaps an indication of closer state involvement with administrative centers such as Axotlan. Occupants of rural sites and hinterland centers also were heterogeneous in wealth and status, although the variation was not as great as in the city (Charlton et al 2005;Clayton 2009Clayton , 2013Hicks 2013).…”