Quiahuiztlan

Welcome to the breathtaking archaeological site of Kee-ah-wees-tlahn, perched dramatically on the lush, verdant slopes overlooking the shimmering Gulf of Mexico in the state of Veracruz. As you catch your breath from the initial…

As we walk across the flattened terraces of the hillside, you will encounter the most visually striking feature of Kee-ah-wees-tlahn: its unique cemeteries. Unlike the subterranean tombs found in many other Mesoamerican cultures,…

Look closely at the weathered, gray stones of the ruins around us. It requires a vivid imagination to see them as they once were, but doing so is crucial to understanding a pivotal moment in history. …

Let us pause here on the central terrace to discuss the monumental political events that unfolded in this very region. Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Totonac people were suffering under the brutal, oppressive yoke of the…

Look up toward the higher, steeper elevations of the Cerro de los Metates, the mountain that backs the city. While the lower terraces were dedicated to elite residences and the sacred cemeteries, the upper reaches served a…

If you look carefully down the slope toward the lower sections of the site, you will see the parallel stone walls of the Mesoamerican ball court. Nestled amidst the jungle overgrowth, this rectangular space was far more than an…

As we walk back toward the entrance, I ask you to look down at the ground beneath your feet. You might notice small, unassuming shards of reddish clay or glittering, black, glass like stones scattered in the dirt. …

As our exploration of Kee-ah-wees-tlahn concludes, turn your gaze one last time out toward the vast expanse of the Gulf of Mexico. Down below, on those sandy shores, lies the beach of Villa Rica, the exact spot where Hernan…