Suchilquitongo (archaeological site) facts for kids

Suchilquitongo is an ancient site in Mexico where people lived a long time ago. It's in the state of Oaxaca, about 30 kilometers north of Oaxaca City.

Local people sometimes call this place "Cerro de la Campana," which means "Bell Hill." This is because they believe a golden bell is hidden inside one of its old buildings. Another name for the area is "Cerro la Cantera," or "Quarry Hill," because pink stone is still taken from here to build things today.

The site is also known as Huijazoo, which means "war fortress" in the Zapotec language.

Suchilquitongo's History

The name Suchilquitongo comes from an old language called Nahuatl. It means "in the flowered quelites." Quelites are a type of plant.

Experts believe people first settled here around 1000 BCE (Before Common Era). By 300 or 400 CE (Common Era), it had become a well-organized community. It was the main center of a powerful area called the Huijazoo lordship. Important buildings were arranged like a horseshoe between the towns of San Pablo Huitzo and Santiago Suchilquitongo.

One famous discovery is Tomb Number 5, found on "Cerro de la Campana." Some people call it the "Sistine Chapel" of Zapotec art because it's so beautiful. There was a disagreement in 1985 about which town owned the land where this tomb was found. Both Huitzo and Suchilquitongo have a hill called "Cerro de la Campana." The people of Suchilquitongo also call their hill "El Mogote," or "The Mound of the Old Lady." On this mound, a fortress was found with carvings of snakes and the god Quetzalcoatl.

The town of San Pablo Huitzo has a history going back to 1200 BCE. Around 1400 CE, it was known as Huijazoo. Later, when the Aztecs took over, it was called Gueixolotitlan. By the 1700s, it got its current name.

Exploring the Ancient Site

Archaeologists have found signs that people lived here for a very long time. The oldest remains are in the Barrio del Rosario area of Huitzo. More recent discoveries are in Santiago Suchilquitongo.

Some historians think this site was part of a big war called the Huijazo or Atalaya War. In this war, the Zapotec people defended their land from invaders. We don't know exactly when this ancient ceremonial center was left empty.

What the Site Looks Like

The main buildings are on top of a hill, about 150 meters above the valley floor. From here, you can see for about 40 kilometers on a clear day.

The top of the hill was made flat by people long ago. This allowed them to build eight large buildings, each over four meters tall. Their bases are up to 25 meters on each side. The sides of the hill were covered with strong walls, making the complex look like a fortress. As you walk up the hill, you can still see parts of platforms, smaller buildings, and steps. These were likely covered in smooth plaster, suggesting that only special people could go to the very top.

Three of the buildings have been partly fixed up. They have simple walls and stairs built into them. One building has main stairs on its sides. Each of the eight buildings had a single room on top with a small hallway. It's thought that priests, wise people, and nobles used these rooms for ceremonies, watching the stars, and even human sacrifices. Some decorations show that these acts might have been for Cocijo, the rain god.

Archaeologists hope to dig more to see if each of the eight buildings has tombs inside. This area might have been a special burial ground.

The main part of the complex was built from east to west. The floors of the three plazas are at different levels compared to the sunken patio or ballgame court. For example, there's a 6.5-meter difference between Building 1 and the sunken patio.

Tomb Number 5: A Special Discovery

In 1985, a very important discovery was made: Tomb 5, found inside Building 1. This tomb and Tomb 105 at Monte Albán are considered some of the most beautiful ancient burial sites in Oaxaca. Tomb 5 is about six and a half meters deep, at the same level as the sunken patio.

This tomb was built during the Zapotec Classic period (650-900 CE), so it's about 1240 years old! Some experts believe it was used at least twice. The first person buried there was likely a powerful ruler known as "Lord 12 Monkey."

To enter the tomb, you go down nine steps. The entrance was sealed with a large stone block. Two carved stones show richly dressed priests. Above them is a large stone beam with a jaguar head. A beautiful bird's head sticks out of the jaguar's mouth.

This carving also has symbols of the god Cocijo, like a headdress on the jaguar. There are also symbols of mountains, water, and wind. The whole design is inside a special frame often used on important Zapotec buildings.

After the entrance, there's an antechamber, like a small courtyard. It has two niches and leads to the main burial room with three short steps. The walls of the antechamber are painted with amazing frescos. These paintings show the original burial ceremony, with warriors, priests, mourners, musicians, and even ballgame players. The colors used are very bright and detailed, unlike anything seen in other tombs.

The entrance to the main room has another richly decorated stone beam. It shows a figure wearing a helmet with symbols of Cocijo and a "bundle of years" symbol. The antechamber is mostly painted red, which was the color of death for the Zapotec people.

The main burial room is a decorated rectangle. Its walls have frescos of the lords from villages that "Lord 12 Monkey" ruled. There are also at least sixteen figures dressed as ballgame players, some holding helmets, and two warriors.

At the back of the room is a finely carved stone piece, painted red. It shows "Lord 12 Monkey's" parents, "11 Movement" and "Lady 4 Turquoise," passing on their power to him and his wife, "Lady 10 Monkey." The details of their faces, clothes, and furniture are amazing.

The Suchilquitongo archaeological site doesn't have public services like restrooms. However, in the center of Santiago Suchilquitongo village, you can visit the Community Museum. It has a copy of Tomb 5 and some of the items found inside.

Tomb 5 itself is closed to the public because the paintings are very old and fragile. You can only enter with special permission from INAH, which is Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History.

Site Museum

While the archaeological site itself doesn't have public services, you can visit a Community Museum in Santiago Suchilquitongo. This museum has a copy of Tomb 5 and some of the artifacts found there. In San Pablo Huitzo, there is another small museum with ancient items and religious art from colonial times.

How the Site is Lined Up

An astronomer named George DeLange noticed something interesting about Suchilquitongo. The entire city seems to be lined up in a different direction than most other ancient cities in Mesoamerica. It points from southeast to northwest. He thinks this might mean it was aligned with the solstices (the longest and shortest days of the year) instead of the equinoxes (when day and night are equal), which is more common for these ancient cities.

See also

In Spanish: Huijazoo para niños

• Santiago Suchilquitongo
• San Pablo Huitzio Municipality