The Tlahuica of Morelos was a group of Aztec people who lived in Central Mexico during the 16^th century. The Aztecs were divided into several ethnic groups, each of which lived in a specific area of Mexico. However, the broader culture of the Aztecs was united by a common language, which was Nahuatl. Furthermore, the Aztecs had similar historical roots, social and cultural traits, as well as gods and religions.

The Tlahuica People

As the name suggests, the Tlahuica of Morelos used to live in the area that is now known as Morelos. Some of their major cities were Cuauhnahuac and Huaxtepec, which are now called Cuernavaca and Oaxtepec respectively. There are various sources which describe the Cuauhnahuac dynasty of the Tlahuica. One of the records mentions the rise of one of the most renowned Mexican kings, Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina, who was the son of the Tlahuica princess Miahuaxihuitl. The Tlahuica people divided themselves into fifty odd groups, and all these groups were spread throughout the Morelos area. They were ruled by a hereditary king called the Tlatoani. In the 1430s, the Tlahuica of Morelos were conquered by the powerful Aztec Empire. Subsequently, the people were forced to make tribute payments to the Aztec empire’s capitals of Tlacopan, Tenochtitlan, and Texcoco. Otherwise, the Aztecs didn’t interfere with the Tlahuica people, and they were allowed to be ruled by the Tlatoani.

The Tlahuica Ruins

The current archaeological zone where the ruins of the Tlahuica are located is in Teopanzolco, which is situated in the city of Cuernavaca. The archaeological site is maintained by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, and visitors are allowed to enter the zone from Tuesdays to Sundays. Those who are visiting are advised to obtain travel insurance before their trips. Inside the zone, there is a public plaza that is surrounded by a number of structures. Among the structures are a pyramid and several low platforms. The pyramid is one of the few remaining Aztec twin-stair pyramids which were prevalent in the Aztec Empire between 1100 AD and 1350 AD. The low platforms, on the other hand, are bases for altars. One of the excavated altars from the site revealed a mass sacrificial burial. The burial consisted of skulls of beheaded Tlahuica as well as numerous pottery vessels.

The Tlahuica City of Yautepec

The Tlahuica city of Yautepec was a very powerful city in the past, and it was located very close to the modern Mexican city of Yautepec. The city had a grand royal palace, which was the place of residence of a king who ruled over half a dozen city states in the river valley of Yautepec. The ruins of this Tlahuica city lie below the modern city of Yautepec. Recently, some major archaeological projects have been undertaken in Yautepec. The royal palace in Yautepec is being excavated by the Hortensia de Vega Nova of the Centro INAH en Morelos, the houses in Yautepec are being excavated by a group of archaeologists, and the settlement patterns in the Yutapec Valley are being studied.

Excavation Site Resources

• Aztec History: Information about the ruins of Teopanzolco
• Click on Cuernavaca: Descriptions of buildings at the Teopanzolco ruins
• New York Times: Comprehensive information on the ruins of Xochicalco in Cuernavaca
• World Heritage Site: Information on the Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco
• Delange: Image of Xochicalco ruins
• Society of American Archaeology : Account of excavations of Aztec houses in Yautepec
• ASU: Map of excavation site in Yautepec

Other Links

• Houston Culture: Information on the culture and history of the Tlahuica people in Morelos
• SFASU: An account of the history of Xochicalco