Etlatongo is an
archaeological site in
Oaxaca,
Mexico. Situated in the Nochixtlán Valley within the
Mixteca Alta, Etlatongo encompasses both a
Formative Period site, located between two rivers, and a Classic/Post-classic site, on a hill to the north.
Etlatongo experienced a sharp population growth beginning in roughly 1150
BCE and lasting for 300 years. It was during this period that trade goods, including figurines, ceramics, and
obsidian
Obsidian () is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when lava extrusive rock, extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth. It is an igneous rock.
Obsidian is produced from felsic lava, rich in the lighter elements s ...
, including artifacts identified with the
Zapotecs,
Olmecs, and the
Valley of Mexico, enter the archaeological record.
Studies of Etlatongo artifacts, including obsidian and pottery, indicate that Etlatongo participated in a wide-ranging trade network. Etlatongo continued to be occupied through the Post-classic period.
In 2020, a
ballcourt was discovered at Etlatongo, dating to 1374 BCE.
See also
*
San Mateo Etlatongo
San Mateo Etlatongo is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 24.40 km².
It is part of the Nochixtlán District in the southeast of the Mixteca Region
The Mixteca Region is a region ...
(town and municipality in Oaxaca)
References
Bibliography
*Blomster, Jeffrey (2000), "Etlatongo (Oaxaca, Mexico)" in Evans, Susan, ''Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America'', Taylor & Francis.
*Blomster, Jeffrey (2003), ''Etlatongo: Social Complexity, Interaction, and Village Life in the Mixteca Alta of Oaxaca, Mexico'', Wadsworth Publishing, Case Studies in Archaeology Series.
*Blomster, Jeffrey
"Diachronic and Synchronic Analyses of Obsidian Procurement in the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca"Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies (FAMSI)
accessed February 2006.
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Mesoamerican sites
Archaeological sites in Oaxaca