Cerro Mesa Ahumada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cerro Mesa Ahumada
Cerro Mesa Ahumada
Highest point
Elevation	2,600 m (8,500 ft)
Naming
English translation	Mesa Ahumada Hill
Language of name	Spanish
Geography
Cerro Mesa Ahumada Location in State of Mexico Show map of State of Mexico Cerro Mesa Ahumada Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico

Cerro Mesa Ahumada (which means "Smoky Table Hill" in Spanish), also known as Cerro Colorado ("Red Hill"), is a hill in the northern part of the State of Mexico. It sits between the towns of Tequixquiac and Apaxco.

This hill reaches a height of about 2,600 meters (8,530 feet) above sea level. It is located at a southern entrance to the Mezquital Valley.

What is Cerro Mesa Ahumada Made Of?

This hill was once home to natural springs, but they have now dried up. The ground here is mostly made of volcanic rock. The soil types found are called durisol, phaeozem, and vertisol.

Ancient Discoveries: The Los Mogotes Site

Archaeological site named Los Mogotes.

Petroglyphs, or rock carvings, found on the rocks.

High up on the flat top of the hill, called a mesa, there is an ancient site known as Los Mogotes. This place was once lived in by Otomian and Nahua tribes. You can still see some simple old building foundations on the northwest side of the mesa. There are also interesting carvings on the rocks, called petroglyphs.

Local people first found Los Mogotes in 1984. When experts from INAH (Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History) visited, they found it on the hillside of Cerro Mesa Ahumada. It was about 2,250 meters (7,380 feet) above sea level.

Los Mogotes has eight building foundations and a small platform. These structures date back to a time known as the late classic or epiclassical period (around 800-1000 AD).

This site was likely used for several important activities. It might have been a military lookout point for the Chichimeca people. They could have used it to watch for enemies or observe the stars. It may also have been a place for funerals or homes. Sadly, the site has been disturbed over time. However, archaeologists have still found valuable items there. These include obsidian (a type of volcanic glass), stone tools, human bones, and pottery.

On the eastern slopes of the hill, you can find more petroglyphs. These rock carvings show figures of men and women. There are also symbols like Tōnatiuh or Tonalli (the sun god), a Nahui Ollin (a symbol representing movement and earthquakes), and circular cross symbols. These crosses probably represent stars or important locations.

The area around the mesa was likely used by many groups, including travelers, soldiers, and traders. It was a great spot to observe the valleys below. This made it a very important place for defense and keeping watch.

In the past, the area around Tequixquiac saw many battles. These fights involved groups like the Otomis, Aztecs, Tlaxcaltecs, Texcoco, and Otumba people. The site on the mesa was very important for watching out for people and warriors during these times.

Plants and Animals: Flora & Fauna

Cerro Mesa Ahumada is part of the Central Mexican Plateau. This area has many different plants and animals. This is because the region has a mix of mild and dry climates.

Here are some of the native plants and trees you can find:

Native Plants:

• Century Plant
• Cholla
• Prickly Pear
• Golden Barrel Cactus
• Fencepost Cactus
• Bilberry Cactus
• Mexican Creeping Zinnia
• Creosote Bush
• Pipicha
• Creeping False Holly
• Tule
• Reed
• Barrel Cactus
• Fern

Trees:

• Kidneywood Tree
• Mesquite
• Netleaf oak
• Tepozán
• Needle Bush

Fruit Trees:

• Tejocote
• Capulin
• White Sapote

Trees from Other Places:

• Pirul
• Eucalypt

The animals living in Mesa Ahumada include:

Mammals:

• Cacomistle
• Skunk
• Gopher
• Virginia Opossum
• Rabbit
• Mexican Gray Squirrel
• Bat
• Mexican Hare

Native Birds:

• Turkey
• Colibri (hummingbird)
• Turkey Vulture
• Northern mockingbird
• The Red Warbler
• Rufous-crowned Sparrow
• Lesser Roadrunner
• Great Horned Owl
• Savannah Sparrow

Reptiles:

• Rattlesnake
• Pine Snake
• Xincoyote (a type of lizard)
• Chirrionera Snake

Amphibians:

• Axolotl
• Frog
• Toad

Insects:

• Red Ant
• Bee
• Firefly
• And many others!

Some animals that used to live here are now extinct in this area. These include the Coyote, Bobcat, and Gray Fox.

Gallery of Nature

• 

  Tigridia flower.

• 

  Cholla cactus.

• 

  Centuryplant (Maguey).

• 

  Barrel cactus.

• 

  Fern.

• 

  A tree named huizache.

• 

  A lizard called xincoyote.

Sports and Activities on the Hill

The beautiful landscape around Cerro Mesa Ahumada is sometimes used for international sports events. One example is Vuelta Sacra, which is a mountain bike competition.

Environmental Concerns

A view near Huehuetoca.

The natural environment of Cerro Mesa Ahumada has been harmed over time. This is mainly due to attempts to build houses and other developments in several parts of the hill.

A construction company had plans to build many homes on the hill. These plans involved building on parts of the natural landscape. This development has caused damage to the environment over the years.

See also

In Spanish: Cerro Mesa Ahumada para niños

• Tula (Mesoamerican site)
• Cerro Ponzha
• Xaltocan