Xochitécatl Archaeological Ruins
Tlaxcala, Mexico
Travel Pictures And Photos

George And Audrey DeLange

Xochitécatl "Pyramid of the Flowers" Located In The Main Plaza Sits Upon Layered Platforms, West Side Looking East

Xochitécatl Archaeological Ruins, Tlaxcala, Mexico: It is easy to get lost going to the Xochitecatl Archaeological Ruins. So we will describe two ways to get there. You must take the toll highway which goes from Mexico City to Puebla, taking the detour in the town of San Martín Texmelucan and then going through the villages of Villa Alta, San Mateo Ayecac, Tepetitla and San José Atoyatenco, where you must turn left. If coming from the city of Tlaxcala you must take the federal road turning left through Santa Anita Nopalucan or through the road to Santa María Nativitas, going through the town of San Miguel Xochitecatitla to the right. The ceremonial center is made up by two plazas. The Pyramid of the Flowers, the Building of the Serpent and the Platform of Volcanoes are located in the main plaza, while the Building of the Spiral is located in the second plaza. The ceremonial center was abandoned due to the second to last eruption of Popocatépetl volcano, about 150 A.D. Years later, during the Late Classic period, this center was occupied once more by the inhabitants of Cacaxtla, but only the Building of the Flowers and the Platform of Volcanoes were inhabited again, while the rest of the buildings remained abandoned. Pyramid of the Flowers (E1). Built during the Formative period, this structure shows a complete chronology right to the colonial period. This structure has a platform measuring 100 by 140 meters, similar to that of Teotihuacan’s Pyramid of the Moon. Two monolithic basins were placed in front of the building’s staircase. Building of the Serpent (E2). It was built during the Formative period (700 B.C.) and shows several different building stages. At first, the square structure had as only access a staircase on the north side. Later on, a platform was added to the east, covering the staircase, and therefore during the last stage a volcanic rock (tepetate) staircase was added, which was probably covered with mud. A monolithic basin was found on top; it is 1.3 meters in diameter and 60 centimeters high. Building of the Spiral (E3). Its construction began in the Middle Formative period (700 B.C.), and is located west of the ceremonial centre. It is a circular building adapted to the natural topography of the land. Its west façade has more levels than the east one. The building’s core is made up of volcanic ash. No inner structures nor access staircases were found during excavation, which lead to the idea that any ascent was by walking around the different levels as if in spiral. This building was probably dedicated to the observation of stars and to the wind god Ehécatl. Platform of the Volcanoes (E4). This building is located in the center of the main plaza. Its construction began during the Middle Formative Period with a north-south orientation. Cacaxtla is located very close to Xochitecatl. The museum, and restrooms are clean. We were here on January 16, 2004 at about 2:00PM.