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When did settled village farming develop in Mesoamerica?

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Map of Mesoamerica showing the geographic distribution of various Indigenous peoples, with regions labeled for groups such as the Maya, Nahua, Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Mazahua, Huastec, Tarasco, and others across present-day Mexico and parts of Central America. Boundaries indicate the approximate areas inhabited by each group. — Mesoamerican Indian Distribution of Meso-American Indians.

Settled village farming in Mesoamerica developed gradually as a result of long-term plant domestication, leading to the establishment of permanent, year-round settlements by about 1500 BCE.123

While the process of plant domestication began much earlier—with evidence of early cultivation of crops like squash, chili peppers, and cotton dating back to shortly after 6500 BCE—the transition to fully settled village life was a multi-millennial process. By 3500 BCE, the availability of improved crops, such as beans and more productive varieties of corn, encouraged a shift from temporary hunting camps to semipermanent villages of pit houses.23

The Early Formative period (1500–900 BCE) is recognized as the era when effective, year-round village farming became widespread. During this time, sedentary life became firmly established, supported by agricultural productivity that allowed for the development of specialized arts, such as sophisticated pottery, and the emergence of early social stratification and ceremonial centers.143