Forgotten by many yet central to Mexico’s history stands the Pirámide de Cuicuilco. Here before us lies one of the area’s oldest excavated ancient cities. It is the oldest you can actually visit. Cuicuilco means place of songs and dances. It was occupied by the Cuicuilca people. This lasted from 700 B.C.E to 150 C.E. At its peak the city housed some 20000 people.
The Pirámide de Cuicuilco is one of Mexico’s most important archaeological sites. Yet it is hidden in plain sight in the Tlalpan borough of southern Mexico City. Few people make the drive from downtown to Cuicuilco. But the site’s surprising and enigmatic history makes it well worth the trip.
Around 250 A.D. disaster struck. The Xitle volcano began a series of devastating eruptions. Much of the area was covered in lava. The population fled. This time corresponds to the rise of Teotihuacán. Some Cuicuilca people migrated to that city. The lava flow is up to ten meters deep. Today it is called the Pedregal de San Ángel. It covers an area of some 80 square kilometers.
The ancient people of Cuicuilco were advanced. They had multiple pyramids terraces and temples. They also created sophisticated hydraulic systems. The Pirámide de Cuicuilco dates to the fifth century B.C. It is one of the oldest monumental structures in Mesoamerica.
The first excavations at Cuicuilco took place between 1922 and 1925. Explosives were used to break up the lava. At the time the only visible ancient structure was the top of the site’s unusual round pyramid. The 85-foot-tall pyramid is dedicated to a god of fire. This god is also associated with volcanoes. The pyramid has been completely excavated. Also two other temples have been excavated. What may be a large civic complex has been uncovered too. All are usually open to visitors.
Cuicuilco is divided into two zones. Cuicuilco A was the ceremonial center. Cuicuilco B lies to the west. It is located in what is today the Olympic Village Sports Centre. The most iconic construction is the circular Cuicuilco pyramid. It is centered on a hill. The pyramid measures 100 meters in diameter. It stands about 22 meters high.
It is thought that Cuicuilco developed into a ceremonial city. Maybe it was even the predecessor of Teotihuacan. The ruins include both residential and religious structures. An old water drainage system is present too. This shows the sophistication of Cuicuilco’s inhabitants.
Cuicuilco was the first ceremonial religious and civic center of the Mexican highlands. It had to be abandoned due to the eruption of the Xitle volcano in 150 B.C. The lava covered all the buildings and houses. It is considered one of the most significant sites in the region. This was before the rise of Teotihuacán. Some speculate that around 250 B.C. both cities competed for regional hegemony.
The development of Cuicuilco became a model for other villages in the Basin of Mexico. It took advantage of the lake soil for agriculture and forest resources. Its location was strategic. In Cuicuilco the earliest representations of the Old God of Fire have been found. Investigations indicate that the first steps in establishing a calendar may have occurred here. This calendar was based on observing the sun’s movements.
The Pirámide de Cuicuilco stands as a testament to human innovation and resilience. It is a reminder of the cyclical nature of civilization. The eruptions destroyed what remained of the Pirámide de Cuicuilco. They dispersed the remains of Cuicuilca culture. But today the Pirámide de Cuicuilco stands as a reminder of a sophisticated ancient culture.