MexicGo Archaeological site in Mexico, Mexico by Location: Teotenango

Teotenango name is mentioned in various historical sources of the sixteenth century, such as the Registration of Taxes and the Mendocino Codex, dating and multiple accounts by Spanish chroniclers; between them stands the ratio Teotenango, in which it says: "... at thirteen chapters told that this town is called Teotenango the rocky hill that has, with barricades of stone where used to be and had made for defense ... . " Teotenango is a Nahuatl word, with which he identified himself to this ancient city; this word, surely applied to it by the Aztecs during the occupation of the city, is derived from Téotl (sacred, god, divine); of tenamitl (wall, fence, barricade) and co (indicative of place); ie can be translated as "In the place of the sacred or divine wall" and is represented by a glyph which is in the bottom half solar disk on which three portions of wall are represented. In Teotenango have at least the presence of another group: the matlatzincas, the most important who settled in this place, who had to use a particular name to refer to Teotenango in their own language; however, due to the important cultural penetration that were submitted by the Aztec empire, this term has been lost. On arrival of the Spaniards who conquered the ancient valley of Matlatzinco, the name of the ancient city of Teotenango was preserved, and that at the time of the founding of the current population of Tenango del Valle, it was baptized with the name of Villa de Teutenanco, manifesting in this term one of the many phonetic corruptions of the terms in the Nahuatl language that made the newcomers.However The most important change made by the Spaniards to the original name of this ancient city years comes later, when the original word Teotenango is mutilated by removing him Teo prefix (sacred) to let in Tenango, thus taking its current name the head city:. Tenango ValleyImportance is considered that the first groups who settled in the valley of Toluca and near Teotenango, roots and otomiana were present at the place called Ojo de Agua, in the lower Tetépetl hill; the presence of Teotihuacan, who arrived as immigrants to this area Matlatzinco Valley, influenced the customs and daily life of the original settlers circa 600-700 AD the first group of people who settled themselves in little known Teotenango and they assigned the name teotenancas, consider the fact the founders of this city. However, the main group that populated almost the entire valley was the matlatzincas, ("those who make networks"), so named by the Aztecs alluding to the wide use made of the network; although the name of the matlatzincas within the same group was nepintatahui, which means "people of corn", which shows that agricultural activity is engaged. Within the area Teotenango have also the presence of the Aztec or Mexica group what was the last stage of occupation of this place, in ancient times. Cultural Site History The history of population occupation Teotenango, as mentioned, have been identified on a site adjacent known as Ojo de Agua, where he established a group of otomiana strain (650-750 AD)., who later received the influence of migrant groups of Teotihuacan, which provided various cultural elements (architecture, sculpture, pottery, etc.) The occupation of the archaeological zone starts Teotenango with a group known as teotenancas who were civic and religious center. This group remains in control of the city until 1200 AD, because by this time the city is invaded by a group of chichimecas - matlatzincas, who conquered the teotenancas, and also build important defensive works for the city. This group of invaders retains control of the walled city until 1474 - 1476, when the military expansion of the Aztecs, who commanded the people Axayácatl undergo Matlatzinco Valley, including Teotenango was presented; as a result of this conquest, occupation occurs in most of the valley of Toluca by the Aztecs, who established a military garrison in Teotenango, resulting in the last period of occupation, which lasts until the arrival of the Spanish in the area.

The architectural development of Teotenango is closely associated in its origins with the styles of Teotihuacan construction, since in Ojo de Agua you have contemporary architectural element with recent periods of occupation in Teotihuacan, consisting of rectangular rooms built from walls slope and vertical. Within the archaeological area has various architectural elements that make the basic structural characteristics. Thus, for the fact of the town located on a lava plateau terrain was unfavorable for the construction, so it was necessary that before starting the monumental buildings the ground-in using embankments and large fillings to level the surface and thereby obtain adequate space to erect buildings. This leveling of the land led to places result homers built with slopes of several meters, on which pyramidal buildings and housing platforms were located. The building style of the early stages of occupation of the site (up to 900 AD) is strongly reminiscent of the classic Teotihuacan style , sloping walls on which a vertical wall by way uproots board or ledge; in this period there is a broad trend of construction of residential areas, with the main adobe building material, but with cut stone foundations are also built.Around 900 to 1162 the largest construction boom of the ceremonial center of the northern system is observed (industry so far explored), during which some architectural changes in structures hitherto existing present also constructed new foundation. The buildings of this period are distinguished mainly by pyramidal bases for temples, which are generally characterized by having wide stairways flanked by balustrades; it also has platforms that may have residential use, this period also belongs the Ball and some housing projects. During the period of 1162-1476 AD Teotenango undergoes various changes in its architectural trends, being added new elements to the different sets to the existing point within the city, as an extension of the original buildings; . also works defensive, as the walls were built in the last period of occupation 1474 - 1476 hasta 1550, the influence of the Aztecs in the architectural style of the city is evident. To the north system, this influence is apparent in the 1C structure, which has rounded corners north side and a narrow staircase built into the wall on the west side, which leads to the top of the structure . where a number of rooms was Colonial Era 's relationship Teutenango, in which the city is described and provide data: The ancient city of Teotenango remained occupied well into the colonial period, as is clear from a document of that time of various kinds, for we know that by 1550, the area still remained much matlatzincas taken over by settlers as Aztecs, who were later forced to leave the place to people Teutenanco colonial villa, later known as Villa de Tenango, at omitted his name Téotl prefix. The document cited above was prepared as part of the royal decree in which the governors, magistrates or mayors of the major towns of New Spain was requested make a written report in which they answer a series of 50 questions relevant to the king of Spain, in connection with the most important things in a certain population. In the case of Teotenango, the relationship was developed on the twelfth day of March 1582 by the then mayor of the village of " Teotenango ", Francisco Davila, who answered the questionnaire sent from Spain helped by five elderly domiciled in the town of Tenango, one named" Pedro Talavera, mestizo, a man of over fifty years and has been living in this village said more thirty years "; the second of the informant, was "Don Juan de los Angeles, Indian governor of the native people and said that a man of over fifty and five years" (ibid). The other remaining three were indigenous villagers of Teotenango, their names are: "Don Pedro Elias and Toribio Hernandez Guzman and Bernaldino, Indian mayors and aldermen, and that natives of this village, and men age fifty" ( ditto). The mandate to develop this relationship indicated that it would make a "painting" (drawing or map) in which the main towns related to the people in question so that the ratio of Teotenango includes a drawing made on paper represent Europe in which one can identify a number of places whose names correspond to current populations who are in the vicinity of Tenango del Valle. In this way, the first village is represented at the top of the map is written in ancient Spanish " San Miguel Tenango subject to "; in the upper right corner another population is with the words "San Mateo subject to Tenango" and immediately below it is the representation of other people with the words "San Francisco subject to Tenango." Among the aforementioned peoples is the representation of the hill where is located the archaeological site, and virtually all its perimeter are represented stepped portions of walls that surround it; in the central part of Tetépetl a church and next to it a legend that says appreciates "This is the yardarm where the village used to be." The central part of the painting presents the urban layout of the colonial village of Teotenango as well as main buildings that were in the year 1582. The church stands at the center, which corresponds to the main parish in the current Tenango del Valle, in front of it lies the square and downtown is a small structure with the words "The gallows ". Along with the representation of the hill are two houses, the first of which says "Casa del Corregidor" to one side of this is "The House of Clergy" and between them you can see "The Source", which corresponds to fountain of San Pedro, which is still in our time supplies water to the town of Tenango del Valle. At one end of the church is the community house and next to it a sign that die "This people Teutenango peñol down from this level and is drawn through the streets as Mexico". Finally, in the lower right corner is the representation of another house with the legend of "The slaughter of bullocks, butchers".

The occupation of the site began in the place known as Ojo de Agua, located off the north hillside Tetépetl where evidence of architecture and ceramics with Teotihuacan influence for the period I Water Teotenango (650 found -. 750 d C ..) During the Earth II (750 -. 900 AD) remains the last occupation of the site Ojo de Agua, while on the north bank of the hill the first buildings, among which we can mention the temazcal are erected, Annexes to this quarter, 2C and 3C structures and substructures some sets A and C. In the period III Wind (900 -. 1162 AD), the most visible structures built in the area among which explored the Ball and the structure of the Serpent. During the period April Fuego (1162 -. 1476 AD), the set is built to annex basement of the Snake and defensive works are performed as wall, while growing settlement industry moving south of the place, used as residential areas some of the visible structures in the scanned area, including the Ballgame court, where houses on the rubble of earlier buildings are constructed.The last stage of construction of the archaeological site occurs during the period May death (1474-1550 AD) and extends from the conquest of the Aztec group Teotenango to the Spanish founding of the town of Tenango, at the bottom of the hill. Description Site Teotenango The prehispanic settlement covers approximately 2 square kilometers; was built on the plateau of the hill Tetépetl ("Hill of Stone"), mainly occupying its eastern portion. As the Tetépetl an elevation too stony, to establish on it the old city, the plateau it was conditioned by artificial fillers and terraces, which formed a series of sets of architectural structures organized around plazas. Among these highlights Jaguar Square, which is the main access point to the ceremonial center, through a staircase that rises to the north side of the main platform. In the first part of this platform, to the east side of the stairs is a rock protruding from the wall of the structure and which was used to record onto a bas-relief depicting a jaguar, being integrated as part of the north wall this building. Tour Monolith Jaguar The aforementioned relief representing a seated jaguar, wearing a necklace with a medallion around his neck, and is in the act of devouring a kind of flower or heart. To your left you can see the representation of the date tochtli ome (two rabbit), while the right side, in another portion of the overhanging rock is engraved the date Chiconahui calli (nine home) with a tie or tie . year Monolith in question has been subject to various interpretations regarding its meaning; about Pina Chan says "Some researchers have interpreted this monolith as representing an eclipse, where the jaguar symbolize the moon (by human tibia of his thigh) or perhaps eating Earth to the Sun (flower or heart, divine food), which occur in Tochtli dated 2 September Calli Mexica calendar; but as in the Aztec time there was no eclipse and hieroglyphs are more like those of Xochicalco, in case the monolith representing an eclipse this happen in ancient times. According Pineapple (1975) "Being ancient times and because the style of the hieroglyphs and shadow of the jaguar are not Mexicans, we believe it may have another explanation; and so we think the sculpture commemorates the start of a new historical stage, the teotenancas that related to the Fifth Sun, created by Quetzalcoatl. In this sense the bond or bond Calli hieroglyph September marks the end of a cycle (tying year) and the beginning of another; the jaguar eating the sun symbolize the Earth said star tight disappear and a new humanity, the teotenancas or Eztlapictin who introduced the cult of Quetzalcoatl would begin. " The Ball In Teotenango the set can be seen Ball Game . Closed and sunk, with I-shaped plant type is formed by the court or central corridor that bordered on inclined and vertical walls sidewalks on both sides, whose extent and center stone rings were; as well as two side aisles or heads in the east and west ends. The Temazcal In the eastern corner of Ball you can see the remains of a typical construction of prehispanic Mexico, known as temazcal, which was a kind of steam that was used for healing or cleansing ritual purposes. In the central hole in the floor is stones, which are being sprayed with water to produce steam heated; the center to the incoming cross a drainage canal that allowed the water outlet. Probably this structure has had adobe walls, floor and ceiling of compacted mud shingle, placed on andirons. The Temazcal is an architectural element that belongs to a stage prior to the construction of the Ballgame occupation, which was partially destroyed when the land for the construction of it was filled in.In the surrounding area are home to several substructures (architectural elements of time before the Ball), the Most of these rooms correspond to the first phase of occupation of this place. Structure of the Snake In the western sector of the scanned area is the 2D structure, commonly known as the Serpent structure as on the north side of his first body is a rock ledge that was recorded with a relief depicting the head of a snake, that position seems to go inside the pyramid. This structure is the largest of Teotenango, measuring 120 meters long by 40 wide and consists of three sections at different levels. Frog Street To the northwest side of the structure of the Snake is a free space located lower level than the surrounding structures, through which access will be allowed to Square Snake, his name comes from a sculpture that is carved in a rock hill that emerges in this street and it looks like a frog. In times of matlatzincas this street was modified with a series of cross albarradas who formed moats. La Muralla The first period of occupation of Teotenango was represented by the group teotenanca between 900 and 1200 AD, but the arrival of matlatzinca group, the site was changed giving militaristic characteristics as works of nature were built defense. Thus on the west side of the site a wall with wall was built up to 10 meters high and 1.50 meters wide with stone without mortar, as a barricade and following the topography of the terrain. This wall covers the entire side west of the city and part of north to south, taking about 2 kilometers long.

Teotenango, Mexico