Tamohí (El Consuelo)
Archeological site
Tamohí (El Consuelo)
The place of rain clouds
Important Huastec center (1100-1300 AD). The aesthetic sensibility of this culture is evident from its mural paintings, the delicate work with sea shells and conch, pottery, work with precious metals and sculpture such as “The Huastec Youth.” River trade was important, given its location on the banks of a river.
Pre-Hispanic city on the south bank of the river Tampaón, covering approximately 520 acres. The settlement’s location was determined by three factors: crucially it was close to water, it was above the flood level and the location was protected against the probable incursions of neighboring hunter-gatherer groups to the north.
Despite only lasting for a short time, since it was only built 200 to 300 years before the arrival of the Spanish, and was abandoned in the fifteenth century, Tamohi was one of the most important Huastec centers of the last stage of the pre-Hispanic era.
The archeological evidence suggests that Tamohi was a stratified society consisting of governing and artisan classes, who might have belonged to different ethnic groups. The governing elite reserved for itself the large platforms with public and private buildings where the priest-governors carried out their religious and administrative activities. At the same time, spaces have been found whose features would class them as private, and these might have been allocated for use as residences for the top leadership.
The location of the settlement, so close to a permanent supply of water, enabled it to develop extensive agriculture to feed its inhabitants and also trade with nearby towns surpluses of such things as maize, beans, pumpkins, chili and particularly cotton, as well as the pochote fiber extracted from the kapok tree.
The emblematic sculpture known as “The Huastec Youth” was discovered by chance on the site in 1917.
- Dirección del Centro INAHImelda Aguirre Mendozaimelda_aguirre@inah.gob.mx+52 (444) 813 4941EncargadoJuan José Ramírez Rodríguezjuanjose_ramirez@inah.gob.mx+52 (489) 388 2000
Gran Plataforma, fachada este
On this platform are located all the buildings explored and consolidated since 1946, which represent so far the site (open to the public). It comprises about 8,000 m2, of which both the south and east façades have been explored, the latter being the main one.
Gran Plataforma, fachada este
On this platform are located all the buildings explored and consolidated since 1946, which represent so far the site (open to the public). It comprises about 8,000 m2, of which both the south and east façades have been explored, the latter being the main one. According to its orientation towards the east -related to the morning star-, it must have been dedicated to Quetzalcoatl in his invocation of Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli. It is 124 m long and 6 m high and two stairways were found: the first one is large (12.78 m wide, including the alfardas, and 27 steps) and leads directly to the plaza, on which the excavated buildings are located. The southern staircase is smaller (5.77 m wide, including the alfardas), is attached to the large platform and gives access directly to the southern structure.
Depósito circular
Constructive element located inside the plaza, between the north and west structures.
Depósito circular
Constructive element located inside the plaza, between the north and west structures. It is a circle whose diameter is more than 10 m., which is all stuccoed, so it is very likely to have contained water, suggesting a ritual function, probably as a mirror of water associated with stellar ceremonies and rituals related to the moon.
Altar policromado
This set is the most important in this platform. Located in the central part of the square, surely as a sacred space.
Altar policromado
This set is the most important in this platform. Located in the central part of the square, surely as a sacred space. This architectural unit is formed by a small quadrangular base topped by battlements, from whose small staircase a bench that ends in a truncated cone, followed by another bench that in turn ends in a unique biconical piece. Some decorative motifs can still be seen, consisting basically of priests or gods. The benches and cones extend to the front of the building and are covered with mural painting.
Altar norte
This small construction stands out for the height from which it is built; it is above the general level of the rest of the buildings, which makes us suppose that it is one of the last constructions of this square.
Altar norte
This small construction stands out for the height from which it is built; it is above the general level of the rest of the buildings, which makes us suppose that it is one of the last constructions of this square. It has the stairway facing east -like almost all the buildings explored in the plaza-, and its alfardas are finished off with dadoes. Its alignment, towards the east, indicates that this small construction was dedicated to the deities of the east.
Canal estucado
Located on the south side of the civic-religious plaza. It extends along 63 m, starts in the square, with a northwest-southeast orientation, is introduced under a small platform attached to the south structure, until it exits on the south facade of the large platform.
Palacio Norte
Located in the northwest end of the platform. Complex construction of rectangular plant that has a markedly rounded corner, with two stairs of two steps each one, framed by alfardas of semi-cylindrical form.
