The pre-Columbian archaeological record in the Americas is conventionally divided into five phases according to an enduring system established in Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips's 1958 book Method and Theory in American Archaeology.

This differs from old world prehistory where the terms Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Age are generally used.The Formative stage is defined as "village agriculture" based.

Most of these can be dated from 1000 BCE to 500 CE.

Examples include the Dorset culture, Zapotec civilization, Mimbres culture, Olmec, Old Copper, Oasisamerica, Adena, Woodland, and Mississippian cultures.

Cultures of the Formative Stage are supposed to possess the technologies of pottery, weaving, and developed food production.

Social organization is supposed to involve permanent towns and villages, as well as the first ceremonial centers.

Ideologically, an early priestly class or theocracy is often present or in development.

Sometimes also referred to as the "Pre-Classic stage", it follows the Archaic stage and is superseded by the Classic stage.