Table 1.

Mesoamerican chronology: BCE (Before Common Era); CE (Common Era).

Period	Calendar Dates
Lithic	~13000–5000 BCE
Archaic or Proto-Neolithic	5000–2500 BCE
Preclassic or Formative	2500 BCE–150 CE
Classic	150–650 CE
Epiclassic *	650–900 CE
Postclassic	900–1519 † CE
Colonial	1519 †–1821 ‡ CE
Present	1821 ‡ CE–Current Day

* The Epiclassic is also known as Late Classic in parts of Mesoamerica. ^† Start of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. ^‡ Mexican Independence Date.