Formative (Preclassic) Period in Mesoamerica (c. 2000 BCE–250 CE)

1. Early Formative agricultural villages spread

   Jan 1, 2000 BCELabels: Farming villages, Formative period

   • Britannica
   • Meso Center
   • Meso Chron

2. El Manatí rubber-ball offerings deposited

   Jan 1, 1700 BCELabels: El Manat, Rubber artifacts

   • Springer
   • Met Museum

3. San José Mogote becomes regional village center

   Jan 1, 1500 BCELabels: San Jos, Oaxaca Valley

   • S J Mogote

4. Paso de la Amada ballcourt constructed

   Jan 1, 1400 BCELabels: Paso de, Ballcourt

   • Met Museum
   • Paso Amada

5. San Lorenzo rises as first Olmec center

   Jan 1, 1200 BCELabels: San Lorenzo, Olmec center

   • Oxford HB

6. Cuello established as early Maya farming village

   Jan 1, 1200 BCELabels: Cuello, Maya village

   • Cuello
   • EBSCO

7. La Venta becomes leading Olmec center

   Jan 1, 800 BCELabels: La Venta, Olmec ceremonial

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

8. Kaminaljuyu develops major Middle Preclassic institutions

   Jan 1, 800 BCELabels: Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala highlands

   • Kaminaljuyu

9. Monte Albán founded as early Zapotec city

   Jan 1, 500 BCELabels: Monte Alb, Zapotec city

   • Monte Alb n
   • Britannica

10. La Venta destroyed amid violence

    Jan 1, 400 BCELabels: La Venta, Destruction

    • Britannica
    • Britannica

11. Teotihuacan begins urban formation in Basin of Mexico

    Jan 1, 100 BCELabels: Teotihuacan, Basin of

    • Teotihuacan
    • UNESCO

12. San Bartolo murals painted in Late Preclassic Maya

    Jan 1, 100 BCELabels: San Bartolo, Maya murals

    • Kimbell
    • San Bartolo

13. Epi-Olmec Long Count date carved at Tres Zapotes

    Jan 1, 31 BCELabels: Tres Zapotes, Long Count

    • Britannica
    • Tres Zapotes

14. La Mojarra Stela 1 erected with Long Count dates

    Jan 1, 156Labels: La Mojarra, Epi-Olmec

    • La Mojarra

15. Conventionally, Formative period ends near 250 CE

    Jan 1, 250Labels: Formative Classic, Chronology

    • Meso Chron
    • Meso Center