# List of archaeological periods (Mesoamerica)

Periods in Mesoamerican history :
Paleo-Indian period before 8000 BCEArchaic period 8000 BCE–2000 BCEPreclassic period 2000 BCE–250 CEClassic period 250 CE–900 CEPostclassic period900 CE–1521 CEColumbian era after 1521 CE
See also
List of archaeological periods (North America) :
vte :
The chronology of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica is usually divided into the following eras:

## Five Stage Classification

One of the most enduring classifications of archaeological periods & cultures was established in Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips' 1958 book Method and Theory in American Archaeology. They divided the archaeological record in the Americas into 5 phases. These are:
* The Lithic stage
* The Archaic stage
* The Formative stage
* The Classic stage
* The Post-Classic stage

## Tabular list

| Paleo-Indian (10,000–3500 BCE) | Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, obsidian and pyrite points, Iztapan | Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, obsidian and pyrite points, Iztapan | Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, obsidian and pyrite points, Iztapan | |
| Archaic (3500–1800 BCE) | Agricultural settlements, Tehuacán | Agricultural settlements, Tehuacán | Agricultural settlements, Tehuacán | |
| Preclassic (Formative) (2000 BCE–250 CE) | The start of states. The first large scale ceremonial architecture, development of cities. (Olmecs; Unknown culture in La Blanca and Ujuxte, Monte Alto culture) | Early Preclassic | Olmec area: San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan; Central Mexico: Chalcatzingo; Valley of Oaxaca: San José Mogote. The Maya area: Nakbe, Cerros | 2000–1000 BCE |
| Preclassic (Formative) (2000 BCE–250 CE) | The start of states. The first large scale ceremonial architecture, development of cities. (Olmecs; Unknown culture in La Blanca and Ujuxte, Monte Alto culture) | Middle Preclassic | Olmec area: La Venta, Tres Zapotes; Maya area: El Mirador, Izapa, Lamanai, Xunantunich, Naj Tunich, Takalik Abaj, Kaminaljuyú, Uaxactun; Valley of Oaxaca: Monte Albán | 1000–400 BCE |
| Preclassic (Formative) (2000 BCE–250 CE) | The start of states. The first large scale ceremonial architecture, development of cities. (Olmecs; Unknown culture in La Blanca and Ujuxte, Monte Alto culture) | Late Preclassic | Maya area: Uaxactun, Tikal, Edzná, Cival, San Bartolo, Altar de Sacrificios, Piedras Negras, Ceibal, Rio Azul; Central Mexico: Teotihuacan; Gulf Coast: Epi-Olmec culture | 400 BCE–200 CE |
| Classic (200–900 CE) | Height of the nation-states. (Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan, Zapotecs) | Early Classic | Maya area: Calakmul, Caracol, Chunchucmil, Copán, Naranjo, Palenque, Quiriguá, Tikal, Uaxactun, Yaxha; Teotihuacan apogee; Zapotec apogee. | 200–600 CE |
| Classic (200–900 CE) | Height of the nation-states. (Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan, Zapotecs) | Late Classic | Maya area: Uxmal, Toniná, Cobá, Waka', Pusilhá, Xultún, Dos Pilas, Cancuen, Aguateca; Central Mexico: Xochicalco, Cacaxtla, Cholula; Gulf Coast: El Tajín and Classic Veracruz culture | 600–900 CE |
| Classic (200–900 CE) | Height of the nation-states. (Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan, Zapotecs) | Terminal Classic | Maya area: Puuc sites – Uxmal, Labna, Sayil, Kabah | 800–900/1000 CE |
| Postclassic (900–1519 CE) | Collapse of many of the great nations and cities of the Classic Era. Formation of new kingdoms and empires. (Aztec, Toltec, Purépecha, Mixtec, Totonac, Pipil, Itzá, Kowoj, K'iche', Kaqchikel, Poqomam, Mam) | Early Postclassic | Tula, Mitla, Tulum, Topoxte, Chichen Itza | 900–1200 CE |
| Postclassic (900–1519 CE) | Collapse of many of the great nations and cities of the Classic Era. Formation of new kingdoms and empires. (Aztec, Toltec, Purépecha, Mixtec, Totonac, Pipil, Itzá, Kowoj, K'iche', Kaqchikel, Poqomam, Mam) | Late Postclassic | Tenochtitlan, Cempoala, Tzintzuntzan, Mayapán, Ti'ho, Utatlán, Iximche, Mixco Viejo, Zaculeu | 1200–1519 CE |
| Post Conquest (Until 1697 CE) | Central Peten: Tayasal, Zacpeten | Central Peten: Tayasal, Zacpeten | Central Peten: Tayasal, Zacpeten | |