.From Acapulco: Archaeological Tour to Tehuacalco Site – Chihuahua (State), Mexico

EXPERIENCE:

Choose from a shared or private experience to enjoy an archaeological tour to the Tehuacalco site. Explore the ancient, excavated site and learn about its history.

Identified by historical sources as Yopitzingo, Tehuacalco is the first explored and excavated archaeological site of the ancient Yope civilization. Tehuacalco remained independent of the Aztecs because of its remote location and difficult access the area.
In addition, the Yopes had a reputation as being fierce warriors. During the excavations, archaeologists learned that the Aztecs never managed to conquer the city either due to the Yope’s warrior reputation or because the Yope territory had little to offer the Aztec Empire. 
The name Tehuacalco in the ancient Nahuatl tongue has at least three different interpretations: a place of the stone box, a place of the priest’s house, or a place of the sacred water house. However, others have said that Tehuacalco is a word related to Nahuatl tehuacalli, which means “artificial ritual caves.”

Also, there are legends about a giant named Tehua, who lived here and used the stone blocks to build his huge houses. People often point to his large footprints in front of one of the structures still visible today saying, “It’s where the giant walked.” 
Pyramidal structures, petroglyphs, and caves where sun cults were celebrated are the remains left in this ancient city. Many of the pyramidal structures are constructed facing east in the direction of the rising sun. The 57 caves discovered so far are all man-made and places where ritual food was offered to the gods. 
The petroglyphs represent circles and rectangles as well as astronomical constellations, including celestial and solar markers and water rituals, dominated by carved human footprints.
 An outstanding example is Piedra de los Pies Pintados (Painted Feet Stone), a 65 million-year-old volcanic rock, which presents carved human footprints.
Discovered in 1991, it was the first site of Yope culture that had been discovered. However, excavations only began at the beginning of 2006. After three years of work, the site was inaugurated on December 16th, 2008.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Explore the Tehuacalco archaeological site of the ancient Yope civilization
See the pyramidal structures, petroglyphs, and man-mades caves in the area
Uncover the mysteries of this newly found archaeological site

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