58 UNIT 1 PREHISPANIC MESOAMERICA
Figure 1.10 Aerial photo of the Classic-period metropolis of Teotihuacan, Mexico. Courtesy
of Companía Mexicana de Aerofoto, Mexico City.Archaeologists have used evidence from apartment compounds to reconstruct
aspects of ancient urban social organization. Apartment compounds were large, rec-
tangular stone buildings with a single entrance leading to a central courtyard. Pas-
sages led off the courtyard to smaller residential units or apartments housing several
families each. Some of the courtyards had small pyramid-temple models that served
as shrines for religious offerings. Much of the craft production that took place in
Teotihuacan was carried out within the apartment compounds. Archaeologists have
found evidence for the specialized production of obsidian tools, ceramic vessels and
figurines, and jewelry in many of the apartment compounds. Elites resided within
more sumptuous apartment compounds that are primarily concentrated in the cen-
tral part of the city.
With a population of some 150,000 persons, inhabiting over 2,000 separate res-
idential structures, Teotihuacan needed a regular and abundant food supply. Many
of the urban residents were farmers who had to walk out to their fields each day. The
city was located in an area of natural springs, and water from these was channeled
and used to irrigate highly productive agricultural plots at the edges of town.