The Archaeological Institute of America’s Iowa Society welcomes Dr. Andrew Somerville (Iowa State University, Dept of World Languages and Cultures) and Dr. Marion Forest (PaleoWest Archaeology and Arizona State University) who will present “Collapse of the Ancient City of Teotihuacan: A View from the Suburbs”. This is a live, virtual presentation (7:00 PM central time) with time for Q&A from participating audience members at the end.

Abstract: Between approximately A.D. 1-550, the ancient city of Teotihuacan was one of the largest and most influential cities in the world. Located just north of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the most visited tourist attraction in Mexico today. Despite containing a population of about 100,000 people for over five centuries, the state of Teotihuacan underwent a collapse at around A.D. 500 and the urban population fell by up to 80%. For decades, scholars have debated the causes for Teotihuacan’s decline, invoking various factors including climate change, invasion, and revolt. This paper reviews evidence for the collapse of Teotihuacan and discusses our new excavations at the suburban neighborhood of Hacienda Metepec, a residential and ceremonial center on the eastern edge of the city that was occupied before and after the collapse.

Please register in advance: https://uiowa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqdeGrrjIqHdIf-CA6iY6-PlKZxhawBmYO#/registration