Mesa de Cacahuatenco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Totonac, Huastec, Otomi Culture – Archaeological Site |
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| Name: | Mesa de Cacahuatenco | |
| Type | Mesoamerican archaeology | |
| Location | Ixhuatlán de Madero, Veracruz Mexico |
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| Region | Mesoamerica | |
| Coordinates | 20°41′N 98°01′W / 20.683°N 98.017°W | |
| Culture | Totonac – Huastec – Otomi | |
| Language | Totonac – Huastec – Otomi people | |
| Chronology | 900 to 1500 CE | |
| Period | Mesoamerican Postclassical | |
| Apogee | ||
| INAH Web Page | Non existent | |
Mesa de Cacahuatenco is an ancient site in Mexico. It is an important place where people lived long ago. This site is found in the area of Ixhuatlán de Madero in northern Veracruz. It is located south of the Vinasca River.
This archaeological site is very important. It is about 44 kilometers (27.32 miles) west of another old site called Castillo de Teayo. Both sites existed around the same time.
The famous El Tajín site is about 80 kilometers (49 miles) southeast. El Tajín was a very large city during the Mesoamerican Classical era. It was a busy place from about 600 to 1200 C.E.
Contents
What Does the Name Ixhuatlán Mean?
The name Ixhuatlán comes from two old Náhuatl words. "Ixhuatl" means "papatla" and "Tlan" means "place."
So, Ixhuatlán means "Place of papatlas." A papatla is a plant that grows in wet areas. Its leaves were used to wrap tamales, a traditional food.
History of Ancient Cultures in Veracruz
The history of the native people in Veracruz state is quite interesting. Before Europeans arrived, four main groups lived here. The Huastecos and Otomis lived in the north. The Totonacs were in the north-central part. The Olmecs, one of the oldest cultures in the Americas, lived in the southern part of Veracruz.
You can find remains of these old civilizations at many archaeological sites. Some of these include Pánuco, Castillo de Teayo, El Zapotal, Las Higueras, Quiahuiztlán, El Tajín, Cempoala, Tres Zapotes and San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán.
Studies of old sites in northern Veracruz show that people have lived there for a very long time. They were there since at least 5600 B.C. At first, they were hunters and gatherers who moved around. Over time, they started farming and built more complex societies. This happened even before the big city of El Tajín grew.
Things changed faster when the Olmec civilization became strong around 1150 B.C. Even though many Olmecs did not live in this exact area, their culture influenced the region.
It is not fully clear who built these ancient cities. Some experts think the Totonacs and Xapaneca people built them. However, there is also much proof that the Huastec people lived in the area when some of these towns were started. This was around the 1st century C.E.
For example, construction at El Tajín began soon after. By 600 C.E., it was a big city. It grew quickly because it was in a good spot for trade. It controlled goods like vanilla that were sent out. It also controlled items brought in from other parts of Mexico and Central America. Many objects from Teotihuacan, another ancient city, have been found there.
These sites show a mix of different cultures. First, there was the Olmec culture, often called the "mother civilization." Later, other cultures like the Huastec, Totonac, Otomi, and Aztec influenced the area. Experts believe the only remaining building at Mesa de Cacahuatenco looks like Aztec architecture. However, the village also had connections with Toltec groups from the Mexican Plateau.
The Huastec culture grew in areas that are now parts of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Querétaro, and Hidalgo. Castillo de Teayo is also in this Huastec region.
Exploring the Mesa de Cacahuatenco Site
Mesa de Cacahuatenco was likely a very important religious center. It covers a large area, more than 75 hectares (about 185 acres). Over 60 structures have been found hidden under the ground. The site might even be twice as big as El Tajín.
One special thing about this site is its water system. It seems to have connected the buildings of the city with channels. Current studies suggest this site was active from about 900 to 1500 C.E.
We do not know much about who built this site. But, experts now believe this recently found site is one of the most important in the Huasteca region.
Excavations, which are digging up old remains, have just started. Even so, the complex buildings at the site are already amazing.
Structures and Buildings
There are more than 60 buildings at Mesa de Cacahuatenco. The biggest one is a platform that is 50 meters (164 feet) long and 28 meters (92 feet) wide. The site also has a system of canals and places where people lived. There are 18 buildings in the main central plaza.
The site also includes a court for playing a ballgame. However, we do not have many details about what it looked like yet.
Water and Road Systems
Mesa de Cacahuatenco has a unique water system. It is made of connected channels. This system, along with a complex network of roads, is similar to what the Maya people built. No other archaeological site found so far has a system quite like it.
See also
In Spanish: Mesa de Cacahuatenco para niños
