The municipality of Tecacahuaco, with just over 1,000 inhabitants, recently caught the attention of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) following a warning from residents in April this year about a significant archaeological discovery.
While excavating his land to expand pasture, a local farmer found a circular stone structure partially covered by soil and vegetation. Recognizing the potential importance of the discovery, he promptly informed Atlapexco authorities, who were responsible for investigating cultural finds in the area.
In May 2024, INAH was notified and sent teams of archaeologists to the site on three separate occasions to examine and analyze the stone structure. Recently, the institute issued a statement detailing its findings and confirming the archaeological importance of the find. The current objective is to complete the records of the monument's characteristics and establish measures for its conservation.
The circular structure at Tecacahuaco, made of carefully arranged plaster bricks, is approximately 15 meters in diameter and 3.5 meters high. It features a well-preserved stone staircase that allows ancient visitors to climb to the top. The lower section is circular, curving upwards and merging with V-shaped vertical walls in the upper half of the monument. Although some portions of the upper part have disintegrated, most of the structure remains intact, especially the curved lower section. Furthermore, architectural remains were found nearby, such as a ball court about 18 meters long, hidden under vegetation.
Although there is no direct method for dating the structure, archaeologists have found fragments of obsidian around the site. This volcanic rock, used to make tools and other objects, has been found in other Mexican sites linked to pre-Hispanic people who lived during the Postclassic period of Mesoamerica (900 to 1521 AD). These fragments suggest that the circular structure at Tecacahuaco was likely built in this era.
According to Osvaldo José Sterpone, director of INAH in Hidalgo, this is the first project INAH has undertaken in Tecacahuaco, a city in the Huasteca region. Therefore, the discovery of this circular structure offers a new perspective on the cultural and spiritual practices of pre-Hispanic people in the area. Various stories and legends began to emerge, proposing that local healers had used the structure for healing ceremonies and offerings to the gods. These narratives, passed down from generation to generation, indicated that the site had significant spiritual importance.
One exciting story told by Tecacahuaco residents involves a local priest who, years ago, found stone monuments near the structure. According to reports, he ordered the destruction of these monuments to cover up any connection with pre-Columbian or pre-Hispanic spiritual practices. According to such legends, these practices were considered "immoral remnants of paganism" by the priest.
As there were no previous archaeological records in the region, the team is carrying out photogrammetry surveys to study better the dimensions and use of the space that can be observed. "We have started photogrammetry and analysis work that will allow us to document the characteristics of the buildings in the records of the Public Registry of Monuments and Archaeological and Historical Zones to give certainty and identity to this area of monuments," concludes Sterpone.
In addition to expanding knowledge about local history, the discovery highlights the continuity of spiritual traditions that survived colonization and sociocultural changes over the centuries. This structure is not only an archaeological artifact but also a living testimony to local communities' cultural and spiritual resilience.
Because of this, the INAH team of archaeologists and the local community began to collaborate to build a partnership where the local community can assume the responsibilities of conserving and protecting this find. The discovery of the circular structure at Tecacahuaco is a significant milestone in Mexican archaeology, revealing little-known aspects of pre-Hispanic cultures and their continuity through generations.
References:
Um homem estava expandindo sua fazenda e acabou encontrando a nova joia arqueológica do México (ign.com)
Estrutura circular 'sagrada' usada em ritos de cura é descoberta no México (aventurasnahistoria.com.br)
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