Tecoaque, the little-known archaeological zone of Tlaxcala

Fear: Vanessa Villalva

A couple of weeks ago, those of us who make up Alan’s team around the world made a small integration trip to the non-existent Tlaxcala, specifically to the Glamping Octlia spectacular place that we already told you a little about a few days ago, where we lived incredible experiences, learned new things and about which we will tell you more details very soon.

On this occasion, I want to tell you about a specific place that we visited on our second day of travel.

It is about Tecoaque, some ruins that are half an hour away, approximately from the glamping.

Ángel Bravo Vidal welcomed us with a smile from ear to ear and a strong handshake of those who dislocate the shoulder, then began what would be a wonderful tour of this captivating place.

We had barely taken the first step and half a sneeze, and he was already talking about the sacrifices, but he wasn’t talking about getting up early or eating vegetables, he was talking about the other sacrifices. At that moment I was caught, and we began a very intense relationship that lasted exactly 2 hours in Tlaxcala, while the rest of the AXM team were taking photos, I was taking all the soup out of Don Ángel, and he let himself go like a stocking thread.

Talk and talk, we were able to go up to the temple where the sacrifices were carried out, asking for the proper permission and with all the respect that a place with so much history deserves-

Curious fact: in the words of Don Ángel, sacrifices were not common, they were carried out in a very exceptional way until the arrival of Hernán Córtes.

Information was found on approximately more than 400 people sacrificed for 8 months, including Tlaxcalans and Spaniards. In fact, during the excavations in these ruins, fourteen skulls were found that confirmed the capture and subsequent sacrifice of 450 people, after Hernán Cortés took the city.

It is a structure where the pierced heads of the victims were placed by a stick, which were exhibited in public to generate panic and respect. This discovery is in the National Museum of History in Mexico City, I went on Sunday (because it’s free) to take a look, and I want to tell you that I CONFIRM, it reminded me of an abacus but with heads. Although this happened many years ago, it is still shocking to know how everything happened.

Honestly, it is worth going to Tecoaque to meet Ángel and to be transported to those times with all his wisdom.

How does Ángel know that this happened as he tells it? There is evidence, scientific studies that prove, by the way in which the bones were found, the type of death they had, their age, and even their skin color. Don Ángel was present during the discovery of the area with the archaeologists, in 1991 and is about to write a book after thousands of requests; he has given many conferences in important places and institutions, ah! He also told me that Mel Gibson went to visit the ruins, if you haven’t seen the Apocalypto movie, it looks a lot like what was supposed to have happened at the time in Tecoaque.

Later, at the end of the tour of the ruins, we went to the Tecoaque Site Museum where we discovered that the pozole… they did make it human! an Otomi girl, who was dismembered alive for after her, her flesh, to be consumed, her bones were buried along with offerings related to pulque deities such as Ome Tochtli and Tepoztecatl.

It was definitely not enough time and there was still a lot to learn together with our friend Ángel, 2 hours did not know much to me, I hope to meet him again soon and see if there is a possibility that our relationship will resurface again.

A 1000% recommended site accompanied by an exceptional guide and full of magical experiences.

Tecoaque can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the last access being 2:00 p.m. Here you can find more details to organize your visit.