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Cerro Chalcatzingo. Chalcatzingo Archaeological Ruins Are Located On And Around Cerro Chalcatzingo. |
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Chalcatzingo Archaeological Ruins: The name "Chalcatzingo" is of Náhuatl origin and it has three meanings "Place most prized by the Chalcas", "Venerated place of sacred water" or "Place of precious jades". Chalcatzingo, located 120 kilometers southeast of Mexico City in the state of Morelos. It is located at the base of two large hills on the only good agricultural land for many miles in any direction. The site was occupied from the Early Formative Period to the Postclassic Period, reaching its peak of cultural development between 700-500 BC during the Middle Formative Period. Chalcatzingo's numerous bas-relief carvings date to the Middle Formative Period, and because of the similarities in style and symbols to the sculptures and monuments on the Gulf Coast, a relationship between Chalcatzingo and the Olmec People seems to exist.
This major site began to develop about 3,500 years ago when the Olmecs settled there, flourishing as a result of a form of agriculture based on terraces and hydraulic systems. From the year 1000 to 100 BC Chalcatzingo was a major political and religious center. A series of reliefs on the rock walls and in some of the constructions date from this period, the most famous being El Rey, Los Jaguares, and the stelae of El Cazador and La Reina. The on-site museum contains the ceremonial square, a pyramid with a round base and a ball court. There were many beautiful white blossomed trees called "Tree Morning Glory," Ipomoea arborescens, growing in the area. These trees are also called, Palo del Muerto, Palo Santo Trees, or Trompillo.
The very small museum and restrooms are clean. We were there on January 14, 2004 at about 2:00 PM.
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To visit this area we would suggest flying into either Mexico City or Cuernavaca and then staying at a hotel of your choice. The Mexico City International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México or AICM), also called Benito Juárez International Airport (IATA: MEX, ICAO: MMMX) is the commercial airport that serves Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. It is Mexico's and Latin America's busiest. The General Mariano Matamoros Airport (IATA: CVJ, ICAO: MMCB), also known as Cuernavaca Airport, is the airport located in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, near Mexico City. It handles national and international air traffic for the city of Cuernavaca. It is part of the Mexico City Metropolitan Airport Group, as are the airports of Puebla, Queretaro, Pachuca, Mexico City, and Toluca. The airport is operated by the government-owned corporation Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA). It was recently renovated with the purpose of offering a fresh image, and modern facilities, and its composed of a sole building (excluding general aviation terminal, hangars, and control tower), with check in facilities, security check-points, a cafe, ATM, customs, waiting room and a sole boarding gate.
There are many very good hotels and motels in the area, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. In fact, we think they are the best way to do it! We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations, through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is very easy to use! We have some links to Priceline.com on this page, since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active. We also have links on this page, that will connect you with several of the best hotels in Mexico City. Hotels that we have personally used! We could, also suggest getting a hotel, and then letting them arrange for either a car, or a tour of Mexico City. If you call their Concierge Services, ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We have used this method, many times, when traveling in Mexico. We have found it to be safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way!
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Chalcatzingo Olmec Style Archaeological Ruins. "El Rey" Also Known As Monument One On Cerro Chalcatzingo. |
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Looking West Toward Cerro Delgado. | Looking West Toward Cerro Chalcatzingo About 1/3 The Way Up Is A Straw Shelter Protecting "El Rey." |
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Walking Up The Road Is This Pyramid On Our Left (North). | A Little Further Is Another Small Structure And The Museum. |
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Audrey DeLange Says It's Only A Short Walk Up This Hill To "El Rey." | George DeLange Says "Hey, I'm Only About A Hundred Meters And It Looks A Long Way Up!" Actually About A Half Kilometer! |
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View Of Cerro Delgado From "El Rey" Shelter On Cerro Chalcatzingo. | "El Rey" Shelter On Cerro Chalcatzingo. |
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George DeLange Says Here Is The "EL Rey" Shelter But These Objects Are Not "El Rey" They Are Monuments Six And Seven. | Wow! Look At The View From "El Rey"! Popocatepetl Volcano In Distant North! |
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Well George! This Is "El Rey." | "El Rey" Also Known As Monument One. |
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This Is What George Was Pointing At Monument Six, Squash Plant. | Definitely Not "El Rey" Badly Eroded, Monument Seven, Animal Crouching Atop A Scroll |
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George Has Seen These Holes At Many Sites In The USA. They Are Used To Make Paint. Or To Hold Offerings. They Are At The "El Rey" Shelter. | This "Tree Morning Glory" Ipomoea arborescens Grew At The Base Of Cerro Chalcatzingo. |
Chalcatzingo Page Two
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Las Pilas Olmec Ruins Nearby.
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