Unveiling the Past of Pre-Columbian Americas: Cultural Phases with Informative Dates
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Pre-Columbian North America includes the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico. Mesoamerica includes Mexico and the Mayan Territories. Lower Central America and the Caribbean include Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Islands. South America includes Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
The principal archaeological cultural phases are Paleoindian-Clovis Culture (ca. 14,000 – 7,000 BC) , Dalton-Folsom Culture (ca. 8,500 – 7,900 BC), Archaic Period (ca. 8,000 – 1,000 BC) , Woodland Period (ca. 500 – 1,100 BC), Mississippian Culture (ca. 1,100 – 1,540 AD), Southwest Cultures (ca. 200 – 1500 AD), Plains Village Period (ca. 1000 – 1700 AD), and the Pacific Northwest Coast Cultures (ca. 1000 BC – 1800 AD).
The major archaeological cultural phases in Pre-Columbian Mexico include Olmec (ca. 1400 – 400 BC), Monte Alto (ca. 1800 – 1000 BC), Monte Albán (ca. 500 BC – 800 AD), Maya (ca. 2000 BC – 1500 AD), Teotihuacan (ca. 100 – 650 AD), Michoacan (ca. 1300 – 1530 AD), Zapotec (ca. 500 BC – 800 AD), Jalisco (ca. 300 BC – 500 AD), Nayarit (ca. 200 BC – 500 AD), Colima (ca. 200 BC – 500 AD), Mezcala (ca. 700 BC – 600 AD), Chupicuaro (ca. 800 BC – 200 AD), Veracruz (ca. 100 – 1000 AD), Tarascan (ca. 1300 – 1530 AD), Mixtec (ca. 900 – 1521 AD), Tula, Toltec (ca. 900 – 1168 AD), Casas Grande-Paquime (ca. 1130 – 1450 AD), and Aztec (ca. 1300 – 1521 AD).
The Maya (ca. 2000 BC – 1500 AD) civilization area is divided into three zones: northern lowlands, southern lowlands, and highlands, encompassing present-day countries such as southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Guatemala, western Honduras, and northern El Salvador.
Lower Central America and the Caribbean
The principal archaeological cultural phases in pre-Columbian Costa Rica are Guanacaste-Nicoya (ca. 500 BC – 800 AD) and Chorotegas (ca. 1000 AD – 1500 AD).
The major archaeological cultural phases in pre-Columbian Panama are La Mula (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Tonosi (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Cubita (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Macaracas (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Veraguas (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), and Sitio Conte – Gran Coclé (ca. 500 AD – 1000 AD).
The major archaeological cultural phases of the Pre-Columbian Caribbean Islands are Saladoid (ca. 500 BC – 800 AD), and Taino (ca. 700 AD – 1500 AD).
In Colombia, the principal archaeological cultural phases are Calima (ca. 200 AD – 900 AD), Sinu (ca. 200 AD – 1600 AD), Chibcha (ca. 600 AD – 1600 AD), Quimbaya (ca. 300 AD – 1550 AD), San Agustin (ca. 100 AD – 900 AD), Tairona (ca. 200 AD – 1600 AD) Cauca (ca. 700 AD – 1550 AD), Nariño (ca. 600 AD – 1550 AD), Muisca (ca. 600 AD – 1600 AD), Tumaco (ca. 300 BC – 600 AD), and Inca (ca. 1400 AD – 1532 AD).
In Ecuador, the principal archaeological cultural phases include Las Vegas (ca. 1500 – 500 BC), Valdivia (ca. 3500 – 1800 BC), Machalilla (ca. 200 BC – 500 AD), Cotocollao (ca. 500 AD – 1300 AD), Chorrera (ca. 1300 – 300 BC), Narrio (ca. 500 AD – 1000 AD), La Tolita (ca. 600 BC – 200 AD), Guangala (ca. 500 BC – 500 AD), Jamacoaque (ca. 500 BC – 500 AD), Jambeli (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Capuli (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Bahia (ca. 500 BC – 500 AD), Puruha (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Cuasmal (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Manteno (ca. 500 AD – 1532 AD), Huancavilca (ca. 800 AD – 1532 AD), Milagro – Quevedo (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Atacames (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), Canari (ca. 500 AD – 1532 AD), Cara (ca. 500 AD – 1500 AD), and Inca (ca. 1400 AD – 1532 AD).
In Peru, the principal archaeological cultural phases are Chavin (ca. 900 BC – 200 BC), Huari/Wari (ca. 500 AD – 1000 AD) , Paracas (ca. 600 BC – 200 AD) , Vicus (ca. 500 BC – 500 AD), Recuay (ca. 200 BC – 600 AD), Nazca (ca. 200 BC – 600 AD), Salinar (ca. 400 BC – 200 AD), Mochica/Moche (ca. 100 – 800 AD), Tiahuanaco/Tiwanaku (ca. 500 AD – 1000 AD), Chimu (ca. 900 AD – 1470 AD), Ica (ca. 800 AD – 1100 AD), Chancay (ca. 1200 AD – 1470 AD), Inca (ca. 1400 AD – 1532 AD), and Aymara (ca. 1000 AD – Present).
In Bolivia, the principal archaeological cultural phases are Chiripa (ca. 1500 BC – 1000 BC) Yaya-Mama (ca. 1000 BC – 500 BC) , Tiahuanaco/Tiwanaku (ca. 500 AD – 1000 AD), Huari/Wari (ca. 500 AD – 1000 AD), Moxos (ca. 1000 AD – 1500 AD), Inca (ca. 1400 AD – 1532 AD), and Aymara (ca. 1000 AD – Present).
In Argentina, the principal archaeological cultural phase is Condorhuasi-Alamito (ca. 2000 BC – 500 AD).
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