Preclassic

Preclassic is a term used in Mesoamerican archaeology to designate the period that precedes the Classic Period. Also known as the Formative, it covers roughly 2000 BCE to 250 CE, though regional chronologies vary. It is commonly subdivided into Early Preclassic (about 2000–1000 BCE), Middle Preclassic (about 1000–400 BCE), and Late Preclassic (about 400 BCE–250 CE).

The Preclassic spans a wide area of Mesoamerica, including the Olmec heartlands along the Gulf Coast, the Oaxaca Valley, the Maya lowlands and highlands, and other regions that later became central to Maya, Zapotec, and other cultures. This era witnessed the transition from mobile hunter-gatherer groups to sedentary farming communities centered on maize agriculture, the development of villages into ceremonial and monumental centers, and growing social complexity.

Key developments of the Preclassic include the construction of large-scale architecture, the emergence of elite ruling structures, and expanding long-distance exchange networks for materials such as obsidian, jade, and ceramics. Craft specialization and the collection of ritual goods became more pronounced. Writing and calendrical systems begin to appear in the Late Preclassic, with some of the earliest monumental inscriptions and calendar-related knowledge associated with late Preclassic centers. The Olmec are often considered the earliest major influence in this period, with centers such as San Lorenzo and La Venta setting patterns later echoed by Maya and Zapotec polities.

The Preclassic laid the groundwork for the Classic Period’s urbanism, centralized polities, and continued development of writing and calendars, marking a foundational era in the history of Mesoamerica.