Matlatzinco Home Page

by Dr. Michael E. Smith
Professor of Anthropology, University at Albany, State University of New York

Welcome to the Matlatzinco Home Page. “Matlatzinco” is a term used in Postclassic times to refer to the Toluca Valley in the western part of the State of Mexico. This web site, which is only starting to be assembled, will provide information and links on the Postclassic peoples and archaeological sites in Matlatzinco. I plan to post information on the following topics:

1. An outline of the Postclassic history of Matlatzinco.

2. Descriptions of major Postclassic archaeological sites.

Calixtlahuaca Archaeological Project (see photo above)
Malinalco
Teotenango
San Miguel Ixtapan
Valle de Bravo
Huamango

3. Photos of Classic-Period ceramic vessels from Calixtlahuaca (CLICK HERE)

4. Bibliographies on sites in the Toluca Valley CLICK HERE.

6. Some papers and reports on Matlatzinco:

Smith, Michael E.
2001 Postclassic Ceramics from the Toluca Valley in U.S. Museums: The Bauer and Blake Collections. Mexicon 23:141-146.

Smith, Michael E.
2003 Postclassic Urbanism at Calixtlahuaca: Reconstructing the Unpublished Excavations of José García Payón. Report to the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. Posted on the internet..

Smith, Michael E.
2003 Comercio postclásico en la cerámica decorada: Malinalco, Toluca, Guerrero y Morelos. Arqueología (INAH) 29:63-84.

Smith, Michael E., Jennifer Wharton, and Melissa McCarron
2003 Las ofrendas de Calixtlahuaca. Expresión Antropológica 19:35-53.

Tomaszewski, Brian
2006 Reconstructig Aztec Political Geographies. ArcUser Jan-March 2006:24-26.

6. Descriptions of Postclassic artifacts.

Polychrome Ceramics From Matlatzinco. I am in the process of posting images and information on the Postclassic polychromes from the Toluca Valley. Right now there are two pages available:

(1) The Bauer Collection at the American Museum of Natural History.

(2) Techialoyan style polychrome pitchers. I have posted some images of a very unusual style of ceramic vessel to solicit feedback. Do these look Pre-Spanish (Postclassic) or could they date to the Colonial period?

7. Also, for the diffusionists and anti-diffusionists out there:

Click Here for information on the “Roman” figurine supposedly excavated at Calixtlahuaca.

Please explore the following links:

Tlahuica Ruins:: Tlahuica archaeological sites that can be visited today.
Tlahuica Peoples:: Historical information on the Tlahuica peoples.
Bibliography on the Aztecs: A bibliography of books about the Aztecs
Michael E. Smith's home page: Information about research and publications.