Area D: Hidalgo and State of Mexico (West)

State of México

This site lies atop a hill on the edge of the town of Teotenango de Valle.

History

Culture: Matlazinca

People had lived in this region for maybe a thousand years before influence from Teotihuacan encouraged Matlatzincan cultural and industrial growth in the Late Classic era. From 900 on, the recognisable features and buildings of Teotenango were constructed as the city entered its heyday following the decline of Teotihuacan.

In 1474, a grand Aztec campaign subjugated the area and Teotenango was forced to acknowledge the superiority of Tenochtitlan and to pay it tribute. In 1550, the conquistador Martín Dorantes ended the occupancy of the city with a violent sacking.

For more about other Matlatzcina sites, see Cultural History.

Tour  (Scroll down to follow complete tour, or click on feature below and use your BACK key to return to the map)

After passing the site entrance and walking up the long hill, we enter the cluster of platforms and stairways that is Teotenango. The feat of constructing these platforms must have been great indeed.

We first enter the Plaza of the Jaguar, so called because of some jaguar murals found here.

We will proceed up the larger of the two stairways from the Plaza of the Jaguar on the south, to the Central Plaza; the largest open court of the site.

Bounding the east side of the plaza is Pyramid 1, the most compact and well preserved building of the ruins.

To the south of the Central Plaza is the South Plaza, with several low buildings with stairways lining its edge. The similarity to the Citadel at Teotihuacan is striking.

From the west of the Central Plaza, we will ascend another series of stairways and sub-levels until we come to the city's "I"-shaped Ball Court. Again, this is a well restored feature.

Rising to the north-west of the Ball Court is a Residential Area consisting of smaller interconnected buildings with walls and doorways, and including a steam-bath. It has been conjectured that these structures were a later addition to Teotenango.

Residential Area

Moving further west, we reach another wide plaza with the Temple of the Serpent bounding its western edge. This is so called because of a serpent sculpture to be found at the building's foot.

The Temple of the Serpent is one of the most massive structures at Teotenango and also forms its highest point, from which a great view of the whole city may be obtained.

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