Ancient City of Xochicalco

Xochicalco

Mexico · Morelos

Ancient cityIntermittent excavationUNESCO · 1999
Approximate period650 CE — 900 CEEpiclassic See on the map ↓

In brief

Xochicalco is a fortified political, religious, and commercial center established by terracing natural hills. Excavations have revealed examples of architecture and sculpture showing connections with Central Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and the Maya region.

What was found?

  • 1Temple of the Feathered Serpent reliefs

    Serpents and human figures carved into volcanic stone blocks bring together artistic features from different Mesoamerican regions. The blocks were originally plastered and painted.

  • 2Acropolis residences

    The building complex in the upper part of the city contains remains of residences with at least two stories. These help explain the architectural layout of elite living spaces.

  • 3Ballcourts

    Three ballcourts with different characteristics have been identified in the city. Calendar altars along the road leading to the southern court reveal the ceremonial setting of the playing areas.

  • 4Terraces and retaining walls

    Large terraces and supporting walls that made the hills available for construction. Combined with stairways and ramps, this arrangement documents extensive urban engineering.

What does it point to?

Xochicalco was a center combining defensive, administrative, commercial, and ceremonial functions amid the political competition of AD 650–900. Temple decorations indicate cultural connections with different regions; according to researchers, some reliefs may depict a calendar correction.

What did it teach us?

  1. Showed that powerful new fortified centers developed after the dissolution of major Mesoamerican states.
  2. Revealed that terracing and water management enabled the establishment of a city on hilly terrain.
  3. Documented cultural interaction between Central Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and the Maya region.

Images

Xochicalco ballcourt 2
Madman2001 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Mexico xochicalco pyramids
Maxtreiber · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Mesoamerican; combination of different regional traditions
Team / historical
INAH
Coordinates
18.8040°, -99.2964°

Sources

  1. whc.unesco.org
  2. gob.mx
  3. INAH — Xochicalco

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