Huamelulpan (archaeological site) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Mixtec Culture – Archaeological Site



Stela at Huamelulpan

Name:	Archaeological Site Huamelulpan
Type	Mesoamerican archaeology
Location	San Martín Huamelulpan, Oaxaca Mexico
Region	Mesoamerica
Coordinates	17°33′02″N 97°24′58″W / 17.55056°N 97.41611°W / 17.55056; -97.41611
Culture	Mixtec (Lower)
Language	Mixtec
Chronology	400 BCE to 800 CE
Period	Mesoamerican Preclassical, Classical and Postclassical (Ramos Phase)
Apogee	300 BCE – 200 CE
INAH Web Page	Huamelulpan Archaeological Site

Huamelulpan is an ancient city site from the Mixtec culture. It is found in the town of San Martín Huamelulpan in Oaxaca, Mexico. The site sits high up, about 2,218 meters (7,277 feet) above sea level. It is about 96 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Oaxaca City.

This site was one of the biggest cities in Mesoamerica during its time. People lived here for a very long time, from around 400 BCE to 800 CE. The city was most important between 300 BCE and 200 CE. This was a time when many big cities were growing in Mesoamerica.

Huamelulpan was connected to other early settlements in the area. These included places like Cerro de las Minas, Yucuita, Diquiyú, and Monte Negro. During their most important period, these cities built huge buildings and sculptures. There is also proof that society was divided into different classes.

Archaeologists found many beautiful urns at Huamelulpan. These urns are similar to ones found from the Zapotec civilization in nearby valleys. Unique carved stones were also discovered here. These stones are special because they have writing similar to the Zapotec writing found at Monte Albán.

History of Huamelulpan
Exploring the Huamelulpan Site
- Main Structures
Ancient Trade Routes
See also

History of Huamelulpan

This ancient city was founded around 400 BCE. It was a major city until about 800 CE. Huamelulpan shows us what the early Mixtec culture was like. The Mixtec people called themselves Ñuu Sa Na, which means "Ancient People."

In its early days, Huamelulpan and other Mixtec cities had changing relationships with Monte Albán. Around 200 CE, some Mixtec cities were partly or fully left empty. Then, between 400 and 800 CE, cities grew again. During this time, Huamelulpan became less connected to Monte Albán. Instead, it formed new ties with groups from Puebla and the Valley of Mexico. This is when the Lower Mixtec (Ñuiñe) culture grew strong. The city was later abandoned, and only used for special burials.

According to history, Huamelulpan was a very important Mixtec trading center. It received goods that were then traded with places like Puebla and Tehuacán. Trade routes reached all over Oaxaca, even to the Pacific coast. From Tehuacán and Puebla, they traded fabrics and threads. From the coast, they traded chilies, hibiscus, dried fish, salt, and seashells. These shells were used for necklaces and earrings.

Ancient Huamelulpan also had important workshops. Here, people made weapons and worked with animal furs.

Discovery of the Site

The Huamelulpan archaeological site was found in 1933. It was discovered by a person named Alfonso Caso. Many of the items found at the site are now on display. You can see them at the local Town Community Museum.

What Does the Name Mean?

The name Huamelulpan comes from the Nahuatl language. This was not the language spoken by the first people who lived there. In Nahuatl, it means "In the huautli mound." The Mixtec name for the site is Yucunindaba, which means "Hill that flew."

Some experts, Jansen and Pérez Jimenez, have a different idea. They think the native name was Yucunundaua. This name would mean "Hill of the Wooden Columns."

Another story says the name Huamelulpam came from two huamil trees. These trees grew together and looked like the letter 'h'. People say these trees lasted for hundreds of years. That's how the town got its name.

Mixtec Time Periods

The history of the Alta-Mixteca region is divided into different time periods. These are called Cruz, Ramos, Las Flores, and Natividad. They cover the region's development from about 1500 BCE to 1530 CE.

During the change from the Cruz to the Ramos period, fewer sites were active. This happened as early Mixtec cities, like Huamelulpan, grew bigger.

The Ramos period (300 BCE – 200 CE) was a time of major growth for cities like Huamelulpan. They became important regional centers. However, after 200 CE, some areas saw fewer settlements. This shows how populations and power shifted over time.

Mixteca Alta Survey (Tlaxiaco, Teposcolula and Nochixtlán)
Phase	Chronnology	Tlaxiaco	Teposcolula	Nochixtlán	Total
Cruz	1500–300 BCE	47 Sites	40 Sites	29 Sites	116 Sites
Ramos	300 BCE – 200 CE	41 Sites	27 Sites	10 Sites	78 Sites
Las Flores	200–1000 CE	92 Sites	67 Sites	49 Sites	208 Sites
Natividad	1000–1530 CE	199 Sites	179 Sites	88 Sites	466 Sites
Regional survey in the Central Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca, México. Conducted between January 1 and June 15, 1999.

About the Mixtec Culture

The Mixtec people are native to Mesoamerica. They live in parts of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Puebla in Mexico. This area is known as La Mixteca. The Mixtecan languages are a big part of the Otomanguean language family.

The name "Mixtec" comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "inhabitant of the cloud place." Mixtec speakers have their own names for their language. These names often mean "word of the rain."

The Mixtec Language

The Mixtecan languages are a group of languages spoken in Mexico. They belong to the Otomanguean language family. This group includes Trique (spoken by about 24,500 people) and Cuicatec (spoken by about 15,000 people). The largest group is the Mixtec languages themselves, spoken by about 511,000 people.

It's hard to say exactly how many Mixtec languages there are. Depending on how you tell the difference between a dialect and a language, there could be up to 50 different Mixtec languages!

Mixtec Books and Art

The Codex Zouche-Nuttall, an ancient Mixtec book. It is now in the British Museum.

The Mixtec people are famous for their Codices. These are like ancient books made from deerskin. They used pictures to write down their history and family trees. These books were folded like an accordion.

One famous story from the Mixtec Codices is about Lord Eight Deer. He was named after the day he was born. His personal name was Jaguar Claw. His amazing life story is told in several codices, like the Codex Bodley and Codex Zouche-Nuttall. He was a great leader who united most of the Mixteca region.

A snail shell pendant made of gold. It was created between 900 and 1520 CE. This piece is now at the Dumbarton Oaks Museum.

The Mixtec were also known for their amazing jewelry. They often used gold and turquoise in their designs. The gold jewelry made by Mixtec artists was an important part of the payments they had to give to the Aztecs.

Mixtec Writing System

An example of Mixtec writing. This picture shows warriors attacking a village. It is a copy from the Codex Zouche-Nuttall.

Mixtec writing started as a system of pictures. This was during a later period in Mesoamerican history. Records of family histories, important events, and myths are found in these ancient Mixtec books.

When Europeans arrived around 1520 CE, Mixtec writing began to change. Today, these codices and other Mixtec writings are very important. They help experts learn about the Mixtec people, their language, and their history. They also help Mixtec people keep their identity alive.

Exploring the Huamelulpan Site

The archaeological site of Huamelulpan has two main areas of terraces. These are built on the side of a hill. The first area has platforms with sloped walls and stairs. It also has a water system and stands with carved numbers. The second area has two platforms with rectangular buildings. These buildings have sloped walls and traces of stucco. Besides these main areas, there are also several tombs and mounds that have not yet been explored.

Main Structures

The main buildings in this area face west. They include a large square platform with a central open space and small hills on three sides. There is also a big terrace, called Plaza 2, with an altar. The site also has an I-shaped ballgame court that is 70 meters (230 feet) long. When archaeologists explored the living areas, they found tombs and burials. These contained pottery and other items left as offerings.

There are five main groups of structures at the site. Each group has several buildings.

Cerro Volado Group

This group has two large open plazas. There is a mound in the center of each plaza. Other smaller mounds are spread out in the plazas.

Pantheon Group

This group is located at the bottom of the "Cerro Volado" hill. It has four low platforms built around a central courtyard.

Old Church Group

This group has two platforms that are badly damaged. There is a living area between this group and the Pantheon group.

The Church Group is the biggest area. It is a hill terrace to the east of the town center. There are old buildings on its slopes. A modern church was built on top of this area. Stones from the ancient buildings were used to build the church. You can still see these old carved stones in its walls.

Western Group

This group is located west of the Church Group. It has several platforms built at different levels on the hillside.

Ancient Trade Routes

People believe that there was a lot of communication and trade in ancient Mesoamerica. There were many trade routes that existed since very old times.

Experts have noticed many similarities in art styles and cultures between ancient Guatemala and Mexico. These similarities stretch from central Mexico all the way to the Pacific coast and into Central America. There are many shared symbols, stone sculptures, and artifacts. This led researchers to study how trade and communication networks might have worked.

It is clear that these trade routes were very important. They helped with the political and economic growth of southern Mesoamerica. Their importance changed over time. Goods and information were traded between central Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean.