Native cultures are represented in all four types of societies, from "bands" to "states." The state was developed only in Mesoamerica and the Central Andes. Chiefdoms were found in the southern Andes, some areas of the Eastern Woodlands, on the Northwest Coast and in the West Indies. The largest and most complex chiefdom was developed in the Intermediate Area (Central America, south and east of Guatemala, and northwestern South America). Tribal level societies were found in central Chili, the eastern Woodlands and the Amazon Basin. Band level societies were found in the southern periphery of South America, such as Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and some areas of Bolivia.
The evidence of ancient social structures and an individual's social status is found in the quality of craft products, housing, dress and burial furniture in archaeological sites. The settlement patterns also indicate the size, structure and internal differentiation of whole societies. However, there is still difficulty in making a distinction of a state level society rather than a chiefdom or a chiefdom rather than a state level society based on archaeological evidence alone.
Archaeologists must also consider that the ethnographic differences are quantitative, and large chiefdoms should have organizational characteristics. For example, if the largest centers of a certain period can be decided to represent the labor and skill that were used by the whole society, this proportion would be a good element to compare with the process and success of the society. It also can be compared with other societies to determine the size and complexity of the society.
Sanders, William T. and Barbara J. Price. Mesoamerica: The Evolution of a Civilization: New York: Random House, 1968.