Chalcatzingo

Welcome to rural Morelos and the enigmatic ruins of Chalcatzingo. Situated dramatically in a fertile valley at the base of two imposing volcanic peaks—Cerro Chalcatzingo (also known as Cerro Gordo) and Cerro Delgado—this site is…

We begin in the main ceremonial plaza at the base of the mountains. Before you stands a prominent, partially reconstructed pyramid. …

Just on the edge of the main plaza area, we encounter a remarkably rare and significant archaeological find: an authentic Olmec altar and burial site. Finding preserved remains from the Olmec period is extraordinarily difficult;…

We now turn our attention to one of the most famous, and most traveled, artifacts in Mexican history: Monument 9, also known as the Earth Monster Portal. Found originally in the early 1960s by a local farmer preparing a field…

We now leave the lower plaza and begin a rigorous hike up the steep, rocky flanks of Cerro Chalcatzingo. The terrain here is challenging—a mix of dry earth, massive boulders, and formidable cacti. …

Moving laterally across the cliff face, we encounter another deeply powerful and slightly unnerving relief carving known as the 'Creation of Man' or the 'Creation of Humanity'. This carving is highly abstract and esoteric. …

Further along the rocky trail, we discover a series of extraordinary carvings dedicated to the apex predator of the Mesoamerican world: the jaguar. However, the Olmec depictions of felines here at Chalcatzingo are wildly…

We carefully make our descent back down the rugged, cactus-lined paths to the valley floor, leaving the watchful gaze of El Rey and the stone jaguars behind. Chalcatzingo is a site that utterly challenges our understanding of the…