On the banks of a river, convenient for trade, remarkable urban planning and the Fretwork Temple, whose facade decorations depict the serpent of fire. The Mexica held sway over the site, who took advantage of the communications network to exact their tribute.
Like Cuajiote, this site must be interpreted in the context of the river Bobos sub-basin, in the central area of Veracruz. This region was a focus for receiving and redistributing trade goods, exploiting the communications network defined by the topology. The network was subsequently used extensively by the Mexica when they expanded towards the Gulf, turning the valley’s settlements into tribute payers for the Triple Alliance. The cultural group which developed this site displayed a blend of characteristics including Maya, Olmec, Huastec, Totonac and Toltec. Materials analysis has identified ancient links with Oaxaca and the Mayan region. In the Classic period it had ties with Teotihuacan and El Tajín, and finally with Tula and the Basin of Mexico.
