The Formative to Classic Period Transition at Izapa: Updates From the Izapa Household Archaeology Project

Abstract

In southern Mesoamerica, the period between 100 b.c. and a.d. 400 saw both the apogee and fall of several powerful Formative-period cities. Previous reports have suggested that conquest from the southeast may have prompted a unique decline at Izapa around 100 b.c., when many neighboring cities were prospering. Over the last five years, new archaeological data has emerged for the Formative to Classic period transition at Izapa. The present work summarizes these updates and highlights recent deposits excavated during the Izapa Household Archaeology Project. These updates raise questions about the Hato-phase intrusion hypothesis proposed by Lowe and colleagues (1982). I close with an alternative proposal that, beginning around 100 b.c., increased network participation and a change in the institution of kingship produced some of the dramatic changes in ceramics and burial patterns observed at the site.

Captive Representations and Social Discourse at Izapa and in Late Formative Southeastern Mesoamerica

“…In this essay, I refer to Izapa sculpture as Late Formative in date, in keeping with Lowe et al's (1982) assignation of most of the monuments to the Guillén phase, now dated to 300–100 cal b.c. (Lowe et al 2013:Figure 2), as well as more recent archaeological and environmental data presented in this special section by Macías et al (2018), Mendelsohn et al (2018), and Rosenswig et al (2018). Yet, I do so with the caveat that the specific chronological placement of the extensive Izapa corpus, as well as monuments carved in the “Izapan style” at other sites (see Guernsey [2006:43–73] for discussion of the history and problematic nature of this designation), remains a subject of ongoing investigation and debate (Inomata and Henderson 2016; Inomata et al 2014).…”

Comparative Analysis of Preclassic and Protoclassic Burial Practices at Izapa and in Southeastern Mesoamerica

“…Conversely, if Izapa and the Soconusco did not witness a foreign invasion, then the move of Izapa's political and ritual activity to Group F and the changes in social practices, including new burial traditions, was likely the result of the reorganization of internal political structures, perhaps motived by the natural disaster which disrupted Izapa's florescence (Macías et al 2018; Mendelsohn 2018). In this scenario, the move away from Izapa's central zones indicates a break in tradition and changing power dynamics manifested through new architectural development in the north and the emphasis on individual rulers through the urn burial practice.…”

Transisthmian Ties: Epi-Olmec and Izapan Interaction

“…Additions to the ceramic repertoire include smudged (tiznado) versions of Pale Orange vessels and post-firing incised designs, including the by-then archaistic double- and triple-line break (Clark and Cheetham 2005:421–424). Mendelsohn (2016) also notes thick incised or excised geometric designs on Pale Orange vessels.…”