Roads, thoroughfares, and avenues of power at Xochicalco, Mexico

The study of transportation networks is important because it provides insight into the structural organization of populations across space. The scale of transportation architecture also functions as a symbol of power and prestige for both the central government and its ruling elite. Although all of these topics are of interest to archaeologists working in Mesoamerica, few in-depth studies have been conducted which discuss the role and importance of transportation networks in the development of precolumbian civilizations. This paper first describes and dates the Xochicalco road system. Secondly it discusses the role and significance of transportation architecture in the organization of Epiclassic society. -from Author