Cuicuilco Archaeological Zone
Zona Ecologico Cuicuilco
A large uneven circular pyramid (known as Pirámide de Tenantongo) is the most significant structure at these ruins, which archaeologists say is the oldest settlement in central Mexico, having been settled around 1400 BC. The pyramid itself dates from 800 BC, which is when the first layer of the pyramid was constructed (upper layers were not completed until as late as 600 BC). The pyramid also has a sub-basement, which is open to the public. Two smaller temples have also been excavated as well as a building that was believed to have served local government functions. Cuicuilco thrived for a millennium, growing to a population of about 20,000 before it was destroyed between 245 and 315 AD by the eruption of the Xitle volcano, which buried the city under a layer of black volcanic rock. These lava stones were ultimately used to construct colonial era buildings in Tlalpan. Major excavations at the site occurred in the 1920s, 1960s, and 1990s. As of 2023, INAH is conducting further active excavations, though the site remains open to visitors daily. A small site museum displays some of the excavated relics from the site, mostly ceramics, but some human skeletons.
- Address
- Av. Insurgentes Sur
- Hours
- 09:00 - 17:00 (closed Mon)
- Price
- Free
Listing from Wikivoyage: Mexico City/Tlalpan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Updated 26 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.