Tehuacalco Archaeological Site

OVERVIEW

Explore the ruins of Tehuacalco, the first excavated archaeological site of the Yope, a pre-Columbian people that were known to be fierce warriors. While walking among the remains of the Tehuacalco ceremonial site, you will see pyramids clustered around a central plaza, a Mesoamerican ball court and a number of temples where sacred rituals were held. You will notice that many of the buildings were constructed with large stones separated by flat rocks and clay, a design that helped the structures withstand earthquakes. More than a dozen buildings at Tehuacalco have been excavated, some of them with staircases and sunken patios. The guide will describe the key points of interest, which include symbolic petroglyphs that were carved into the rocks with stone chisels. The name Tehuacalco is derived from the Nahuatl language and means “place of the stone box,” which is appropriate due to the simply designed stone buildings.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Wander among the excavated ruins of Tehuacalco, an ancient ceremonial site.
• Discover what life was like for the Yope people that held trituals in Tehuacalco.
• See stone pyramids, a ball court and petrogylphs carved into the rocks.
• Hear theories about why the Yopes left Tehuacalco and their enigmatic legacy.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.