Acozac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Texcoco Kingdom |
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| Name: | Acozac Archaeological Site | |
| Type | Archaeology | |
| Location | Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico Mexico |
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| Region | Mesoamerica (México) | |
| Coordinates | 19°19′42.74″N 98°53′33.35″W / 19.3285389°N 98.8925972°W | |
| Culture | Chichimeca – Acolhua – Tepanec | |
| Language | ||
| Chronology | 900 - 1521 CE. | |
| Period | Classical - Postclassical | |
| INAH Web Page | Acozac Archaeological site (Spanish) | |
Acozac is an ancient archaeological site in Mexico. It's found in the State of Mexico, near a town called Ixtapaluca. You can find it about 30 kilometers (18 miles) along the Mexico-Puebla road. This site gives us clues about the people who lived here long ago.
Contents
What is Acozac?
Acozac is a very old place. It might be linked to cities mentioned in the Codex Xolotl. This is an ancient book that tells stories about the grandson of a ruler named Xólotl.
Archaeologists have found pottery at Acozac. This pottery shows that people lived here for a long time. The first people arrived around 900 to 1200 CE. More people lived here from 1200 to 1430 CE. The buildings you can see today were mostly built between 1430 and 1521 CE.
A Story from Acozac's Past
Acozac was part of the Texcoco Kingdom. The ruler of Texcoco was called a tlatoani. One important tlatoani was Techotlallatzin. He died in 1406. His son, Itzcoatl, became the new ruler.
Itzcoatl was young and didn't have much experience. Another powerful ruler, Tezozomoc from Azcapotzalco, attacked Texcoco. Itzcoatl had to escape quickly. He carried his baby son, Nezahualcoyotl, in his arms.
Tezozomoc's soldiers chased them into a forest. Itzcoatl managed to hide baby Nezahualcoyotl. Sadly, Itzcoatl was killed. But Nezahualcoyotl survived and later became a very famous and wise ruler of Texcoco.
Buildings at Acozac
When you visit Acozac, you can see several interesting structures.
Circular Temple
One important building is a circular temple. This temple was used to worship Ehecatl. Ehecatl was the ancient god of wind.
The Great Platform
Near the circular temple, there is a large structure called the Great Platform. This platform has many rooms, open areas (patios), and altars. Some parts of the platform still have their original red plaster finish. Archaeologists also found two smaller altars near the main temple.
Homes and Views
Experts have found more than a hundred other structures at Acozac. These were probably homes where people lived.
The site is located in the middle of a forest. From Acozac, you can see the amazing volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. It's a beautiful place with both ancient buildings and natural scenery.
See also
In Spanish: Acozac para niños
