This study describes the results of the Cotaxtla Archaeological Survey, undertaken to investigate aspects of social and economic organization during the Postclassic period (AD 900–1200) at Cotaxtla (Cuetlaxtlan), Veracruz, Mexico. Prior research indicates that dramatic changes occurred in social, political, and economic patterns in south-central Veracruz during the Postclassic period. The growth of trade and market exchange throughout Mesoamerica and Aztec imperial expansion into the Gulf lowlands may have been among the factors involved in these changes. Because Cotaxtla was a Gulf lowland provincial capital that was conquered by the Aztec empire, it is well-suited to investigate these social and economic issues. Through a fieldwork program that included survey, mapping, and surface artifact collection, data relating to three key issues were collected: the site's settlement patterns (ie, its internal organization), its economic roles, and the material remains associated with Aztec imperialism.