Tlatilco

Abstract

The Early Formative Mexican community of Tlatilco (1400–1100 cal BCE) is known for its diverse ceramic traditions that testify to the elaborate craftsmanship and the hierarchical distribution of labor. Since Tlatilco was discovered in the 1930s by Miguel Covarrubias, the understanding of the site has changed; during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, Tlatilco was excavated, revealing the dynamics of the site, with the objective of establishing the chronology and preserving the many burials. However, much material remains unstudied. The research for this chapter involved gathering iconographic and archaeological data from collections all over North America. It mainly focuses on the variation within the material expression of this ancient culture. Through comparative techniques and utilizing advanced laboratory analysis, the diversity of the community of Tlatilco and its neighbors is being investigated to understand better what constitutes Tlatilcan material culture. Finally, how their identities changed and shifted due to contact with their contemporaries, both pre-and post-Olmec contact, has been discussed.