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in craft production and long-distance trade. It was an important fortressed commercial and religious center following the decline of the great Meso-American city states. The poor farming conditions in the area show that it was likely built for defense purposes and trading. The ruins were first described by explorer
Antonio Alzate in 1777. In 1810,
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in 1910. Major archaeological excavations and further restorations were done in a project from the 1940s through the 1960s by
Eduardo Noguera and César Saenz. Jaime Litvak King also worked at the site. In 1976 archaeologist Kenneth Hirth of Pennsylvania State University began a multi-season fieldwork
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The main ceremonial center is atop an artificially leveled hill, with remains of residential structures, mostly unexcavated, on long terraces covering the slopes. The site was first occupied by 200 BC, but did not develop into an urban center until the
Epiclassic period (AD 700 – 900). Nearly all the
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Xochicalco was founded in about 650 AD by the Olmeca-Xicalanca, which are a Mayan group of traders from
Campeche, at a site that gave them an excellent position along several of the major Mesoamerican trade routes. The city-state had a population of 10,000 to 15,000 people, many of whom were engaged
429:
The observatory is a cave modified to allow study of the movement of the sun. The cave was covered with stucco and painted black, yellow and red with a chimney that measured from the base to the surface 8.7 meters, and which is hexagonal in the top. The chimney has a slight slope allowing the sun's
416:
At some point around 900 CE the city of
Xochicalco was burned and destroyed. Many of the excavated houses and temples have layers of burning and destruction that cover the deposits from the main Epiclassic occupation. Underneath destruction layers, numerous objects were left in place in the houses,
417:
indicating that the site was destroyed and abandoned quickly. A small remnant population lived on, however, on the lower slopes of the hill. Later, around 1200, the site was recolonized by the
Nahuatl-speaking Tlahuica peoples, ancestors to the Nahuatl-speaking populations of the modern state of
433:
In the 105 days running from 30 April to 15 August, the sun shines into the cave. In the sun's movement towards the Tropic of Cancer and upon their return, respectively, on 14/15 May and 28/29 July, the sun is at its zenith and the astronomical noon, the beam of light falls directly through the
342:
and Maya art. The high taluds of the pyramid bear relief carvings that depict towns that paid tribute to
Xochicalco as well as several seated figures that look Mayan. It has been speculated that Xochicalco may have had a community of artists from other parts of
354:, sweat-baths, an unusual row of circular altars, and a cave with steps carved down into it. The site also has some free-standing sculptured stelae; others were removed from their original location and are now on display in the
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workshops. In 1988 a large-scale program of excavation of monumental architecture was initiated by
Norberto González Crespo and Silvia Garza of the INAH. A new museum was built to house the spectacular finds of this project.
582:
González Crespo, Norberto; Garza
Tarazona, Silvia; de Vega Nova, Hortensia; Mayer Guala, Pablo; Canto Aguilar, Giselle (Fall 1995). "Archaeological Investigations at Xochicalco, Morelos: 1984 and 1986".
235:
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Hirth, Kenneth G. and Ann
Cyphers Guillén (1988) Tiempo y asentamiento en Xochicalco. Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City.
272:. The site is open to visitors all week, from 10 am to 5 pm, although access to the observatory is only allowed after noon. The apogee of Xochicalco came after the fall of
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chimney showing the image of the sun on the floor of the cave. Surely, taking advantage of the solar phenomenon, the site was also used for religious ceremonies.
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The Temple of the Feathered Serpent has fine stylized depictions of that deity in a style which includes apparent influences of Teotihuacan and Maya art
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A 2009 concession granted to Canadian mining company Esperanza Silver threatens the site, according to archaeologist Silvia Garza Tarazona of the
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published a description and illustration of Xochicalco, based on Alzate's description and an engraving published in Mexico City in 1791. Emperor
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De la Fuente, Beatriz, Silvia Garza Tarazona, Norberto González Crespo, Arnold Leboef, Miguel León Portilla and Javier Wimer (1995)
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standing architecture at the site was built at this time. At its peak, the city may have had a population of up to 20,000 people.
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Views of the Cordilleras and monuments of the indigenous peoples of the Americas : a critical edition
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and it has been speculated that Xochicalco may have played a part in the fall of the Teotihuacan empire.
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Volume 1, Ancient Urbanism at Xochicalco: The Evolution and Organization of a Pre-Hispanic Society.
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visited the ruins. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent was restored by Mexican archaeologist
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Of special interest are sculptured reliefs on the sides of some buildings. The Temple of the
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has fine stylized depictions of that deity in a style which includes apparent influences of
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Snow, Dean R. "Archaeology of Native North America." Prentice Hall, New York: 2010. p. 157
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Other monuments at the site include several other step-pyramid temples, palaces, three
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project in which he mapped the entire site and conducted excavations of houses and
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as "in the house of Flowers". The site is located 38 km southwest of
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and a tourist destination. The site also has a well-stocked museum.
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Earliest 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl
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Earliest 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl
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Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco World Heritage Site
546:"INAH National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico"
79:
996:
878:
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Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
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Centro del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia
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El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
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Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of
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Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro
512:. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 60.
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of Xochicalco show affinities with Teotihuacan, the
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Obsidian Craft Production in Ancient Central Mexico
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By Susana Paredes, El Sol de Cuernavaca, 9 Jan 2020
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List of archaeoastronomical sites sorted by country
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430:rays to be to projected on the floor of the cave.
497:. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. p. 157.
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649:The DeLanges visit Xochicalco, with many photos
299:. Today the residents of the nearby village of
578:, Instituto de Cultura de Morelos, Cuernavaca.
358:museum in Mexico City and at the site museum.
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630:, University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.
623:. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.
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170:Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco
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662:
403:
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771:Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco
716:Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco
621:Volume 2, The Xochicalco Mapping Project
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884:Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of
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913:Central University City Campus of the
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613:Archaeological Research at Xochicalco
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330:The primary ballcourt at Xochicalco.
945:Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
814:Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
807:Islands and Protected Areas of the
709:Islands and Protected Areas of the
533:Peligra Xochicalco por minera: INAH
495:Archaeology of Native North America
370:Rain drainage pipes from Xochicalco
13:
626:Hirth, Kenneth G. (editor) (2006)
611:Hirth, Kenneth G. (editor) (2000)
48:
14:
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1079:Former populated places in Mexico
901:Archaeological Monuments Zone of
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268:, about 122 km by road from
1094:Archaeological museums in Mexico
508:Humboldt, Alexander von (2012).
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40:
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1069:Archaeological sites in Morelos
881:in the Central Valley of Oaxaca
446:Temple of the Feathered Serpent
438:Temple of the Feathered Serpent
412:Temple of the Feathered Serpent
1074:World Heritage Sites in Mexico
940:Luis Barragán House and Studio
721:Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino
685:World Heritage Sites in Mexico
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1084:Classic period in Mesoamerica
925:Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
803:Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara
737:Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
465:List of Mesoamerican pyramids
991:Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve
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7:
978:Historic Fortified Town of
908:Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
867:and Archaeological Site of
846:Historic Monuments Zone of
752:Historic Monuments Zone of
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248:in the western part of the
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576:La Acrópolis de Xochicalco
316:UNESCO World Heritage Site
160:UNESCO World Heritage Site
152:UNESCO World Heritage Site
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950:Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley
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404:Destruction of the city
362:History and Exploration
260:may be translated from
244:archaeological site in
1040:18.80389°N 99.295917°W
700:Paquimé, Casas Grandes
548:. INAH. Archived from
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377:Alexander von Humboldt
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229:[ʃot͡ʃiˈkaɬko]
225:Nahuatl pronunciation:
117:18.80389°N 99.295917°W
30:Pyramids in Xochicalco
995:Pre-Hispanic Town of
984:Pre-Hispanic City of
954:Pre-Hispanic City of
873:Prehistoric Caves of
834:Pre-Hispanic City of
767:San Miguel de Allende
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381:Maximilian of Mexico
122:18.80389; -99.295917
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929:Historic Centre of
863:Historic Centre of
840:Historic Centre of
796:Historic Centre of
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585:Ancient Mesoamerica
493:Snow, Dean (2010).
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1089:Museums in Morelos
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809:Gulf of California
765:Protected town of
762:and Adjacent Mines
711:Gulf of California
569:Major publications
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167:Official name
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758:Historic Town of
336:Feathered Serpent
314:Xochicalco is an
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1031:99°17′45.3″W
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986:Chichén Itzá
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554:. Retrieved
550:the original
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141:Late Classic
108:99°17′45.3″W
15:
1043: /
956:Teotihuacán
931:Mexico City
869:Monte Albán
848:Tlacotalpan
556:19 November
345:Mesoamerica
340:Teotihuacan
293:Matlatzinca
285:iconography
274:Teotihuacan
270:Mexico City
256:. The name
198:1999 (23rd
195:Inscription
120: /
96:Coordinates
90:Mesoamerica
58:Mesoamerica
1058:Categories
1028:18°48′14″N
965:South East
935:Xochimilco
903:Xochicalco
857:South West
760:Guanajuato
692:North West
352:ballcourts
266:Cuernavaca
258:Xochicalco
221:Xochicalco
146:Site notes
105:18°48′14″N
19:Xochicalco
754:Querétaro
748:Zacatecas
322:Monuments
301:Cuentepec
246:Miacatlán
210:707.65 ha
185:Reference
72:Miacatlán
980:Campeche
973:Calakmul
886:Palenque
836:El Tajín
769:and the
605:26307315
454:See also
390:obsidian
176:Criteria
68:Location
798:Morelia
419:Morelos
305:Nahuatl
262:Nahuatl
254:Morelos
240:) is a
200:Session
138:Periods
133:History
76:Morelos
1011:region
865:Oaxaca
842:Puebla
619:, and
603:
516:
303:speak
86:Region
80:Mexico
997:Uxmal
879:Mitla
875:Yagul
601:JSTOR
471:Notes
933:and
915:UNAM
877:and
823:East
780:West
558:2008
514:ISBN
356:INAH
289:Maya
283:and
279:The
207:Area
593:doi
252:of
189:939
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223:(
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