Prehistory
The oldest evidence of human activity in Puebla dates back to around 7000 BCE in the Tehuacán Valley. From this period, we have stone tools such as axes, scrapers, and knives crafted by early inhabitants to hunt and gather herbs and wild fruits to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. Among the archaeological remains, visitors can see ixtle fiber cords, avocado seeds, amaranth branches, and early corn cobs from "teozintle", the first variety of maize cultivated by humans in the Americas.

Pre-Hispanic Period
The geography and climate of the Puebla-Tlaxcala Valley have supported human life since ancient times. During the Formative Horizon (200 BCE–200 CE), the region saw a significant increase in human settlement, with societies sustained by agriculture. The close relationship with nature and material progress gave rise to a distinctive worldview shaped by magical beliefs. An example of this is the burial of the dead adorned with greenstone jewelry and placed within a “magical enclosure.”
High culture flourished in the Puebla Valley during the Classic Horizon (200–900 CE), with Cholula emerging as the most important city of the time—a sacred center that attracted a rich diversity of cultures. A key example from this period is the Fine Orange pottery, produced in the Ixcaquixtla region in southern Puebla. This ceramic was among the most prized trade goods in Mesoamerica.
The museum features an excellent collection of polychrome "codex-style" ceramics made by Cholulan potters during the Postclassic Horizon (900–1521 CE). During this time, the Mexica Empire came to dominate much of Mesoamerica, and evidence of their influence can be found throughout Puebla. One striking example is a modeled clay sculpture of "Xipe Tótec", god of spring, recovered from excavations at Tepexi el Viejo. This piece reveals Mexica influence in the Mixtec region during the final years of the pre-Hispanic era.