VIAJANDO A LA ZONA ARQUEOLOGICA CHIMALACATLAN,,morelos,,

Summary

Chimalacatlán is an archaeological site located in the municipality of Tlaquiltenango, in the southern part of Morelos, Mexico. Once a thriving city dating back to 1200 BC, it was known for its strategic location and the extraction of green stone, which was highly valued by the Mesoamerican people. The city was abandoned for over 2,000 years before being inhabited by different ethnic groups. The site includes both residential and civic-religious structures, such as ball courts. Artifacts suggest early Olmec influence, followed by Teotihuacan and Mexica cultures, making it a significant historical and cultural site.

Takeaways

• 😀 Chimalacatlán is an archaeological site located in the municipality of Tlaquiltenango, Morelos, Mexico, on the Cerros del Venado and Mesa del Venado mountains.
• 😀 The ancient city of Chimalacatlán was built on this site, but only its ruins remain today.
• 😀 The strategic location of Chimalacatlán allowed its residents to extract and process greenstone, which was highly valued by Mesoamerican cultures.
• 😀 Greenstone was considered miraculous by the locals, who traded and distributed it.
• 😀 Chimalacatlán's peak dates back to around 1200 BC, but the city was abandoned for over 2000 years.
• 😀 The site was later re-inhabited by various ethnic groups with different cultural influences.
• 😀 The site consists of two main construction areas: the lower (residential and work areas) and the upper (civic-religious buildings, plazas, and ball courts).
• 😀 The earliest archaeological evidence from the site dates back to the Olmec period (Middle Preclassic, 800-500 BC).
• 😀 The ball court, figurines, and ceramics show influences from Teotihuacán during the Classic period (100 BC - 700 AD).
• 😀 Chimalacatlán also shows similarities to materials from Xochicalco, dating to the Classic period (700-900 AD), and recently, Postclassic ceramics (2300-1521 AD) with Mexica influence were found.

Q & A

What is Chimalacatlán, and where is it located?

Chimalacatlán is a town located in the municipality of Tlaquiltenango, in the southern part of the state of Morelos, Mexico. It is situated on the Venado Hills and the Mesa del Venado.

What is significant about the archaeological site of Chimalacatlán?

The archaeological site of Chimalacatlán is significant for being the ruins of the ancient city of Chimalacatlán, which had a strategic location and was known for the extraction and processing of green stone, a resource considered miraculous by the Mesoamericans.

When did the peak of Chimalacatlán occur, and what happened afterward?

Chimalacatlán reached its peak around 1200 BCE but was abandoned for more than 2,000 years before being repopulated by various ethnic groups.

What types of structures were found in Chimalacatlán?

Chimalacatlán's construction is divided into two parts: the lower area, which includes residential units and specialized work areas, and the higher area, which consists of civic-religious buildings, plazas, and a ball court.

What is the earliest evidence found at Chimalacatlán, and from which period does it date?

The earliest evidence found at Chimalacatlán dates to the Olmec period, specifically between 800 and 500 BCE, which is part of the Middle Preclassic period.

What influences are seen in Chimalacatlán from later cultures?

Chimalacatlán shows influences from Teotihuacan during the Classic period, around 100 BCE to 700 CE, and also has evidence of connections to Xochicalco from the Late Classic period (700–900 CE).

What type of archaeological findings from the Postclassic period have been identified in Chimalacatlán?

Archaeological findings from the Postclassic period (2300–1521 CE) in Chimalacatlán include ceramics that reflect the influence of the Mexicas (Aztecs) from central Mexico.

How did the local population utilize the green stone in Chimalacatlán?

The local population of Chimalacatlán extracted and processed green stone, which they considered miraculous. This stone was then exchanged and distributed with other regions.

What role did the location of Chimalacatlán play in its history?

The strategic location of Chimalacatlán, situated on the Venado Hills, allowed the inhabitants to dominate trade routes and resources, particularly green stone, which was highly valued.

Who was the archaeologist that recently found Postclassic ceramics in Chimalacatlán?

The archaeologist who recently discovered Postclassic ceramics in Chimalacatlán was Luis Esas Rosas.