Huapalcalco

Huapalcalco (Pyramid) Archaeological Site
Huapalcalco (Pyramid) Archaeological Site, established during Toltec Period (100-650 CE)
Olmec (Xicalanca) Culture – Archaeological Site
Huapalcalco Pyramid
Name: Huapalcalco Archaeological Site
Type Mesoamerican archaeology
Location Huapalcalco, Tulancingo, Hidalgo
 Mexico
Region Mesoamerica
Coordinates 20°07′01″N 98°21′45″W / 20.11702°N 98.3624°W / 20.11702; -98.3624
Culture Olmeca-Xicalanca – Toltec
Language
Chronology 100 – 650 CE
Period Mesoamerican Preclassical, Classical, Postclassical
Apogee
INAH Web Page

Huapalcalco is a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican archeological site located some 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico.[1]

The site was built on the west slope of the "Tecolote" hill; the slope is separated east-west by a ravine that forms two sectors at the foot of the hill and two more on the top, all of which contain archaeological vestiges.[1]

The site depicts Teotihuacán influence, and some believe that Topilitzin Quetzalcóatl[2] resided here, before governing Tula. Also it is considered the oldest human occupation site in the state of Hidalgo.[3]

It is believed that it must have been a very important civil, religious and housing center. It is known that it was the second Toltec Empire, before Tula.[3]

The city was of olmeca-xicalanca origin, or the first settler tribes of the great central plateau of the mountain range. The meaning of such wooden building is not known, it was probably built when the ancient native people settled; perhaps it was a building destined as a Telpochcalli, for military training, justice administration, or learning dances or music.[4]

Men passed through the Bering Straits 40 thousand years, 30 thousand years ago, men reached the Mexican plains and about 13 thousand years ago, men reached Huapalcalco in Hidalgo, where vestiges have been located that date back to that period.[3]

Huapalcalco is a mesoamerican classical period (100 to 650 CE), formed part of the State of Teotihuacan; however, both its architecture and pottery is not equal to Teotihuacan, i.e. there is Teotihuacan influence, but are not Teotihuacan. It is not known what culture built these monuments; it can only be said that it is closely related to the Teotihuacan culture and had influence of the cultures of the Gulf Coast.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Zona arqueológica de Huapalcalco" [Huapalcalco Archaeological Site]. INAH (in Spanish). Mexico. Archived from the original on 2010-05-07. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Huapalcalco, Mexico" [Huapalcalco, Mexico]. Visiting Mexico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Tula3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Glifo". Tulancingo Cultural.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2010.