Sierra Gorda Part 7: Tancama's Plaza Santiago

The structure bordering the east side of Plaza Santiago contains two huastecos. The circular shape of these structures relates to Ehecatl, the Wind God, who was probably the most important deity at Tancama. These huastecos are among five that have been excavated at Plaza Santiago. In Part 5, I showed four others along the west side of Plaza de Mirador. Most temples throughout Mesoamerica are square or rectangular and their four sides face the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west). These directions are sacred and each has its own god. However, since wind can blow from from any direction, temples to Ehecatl are circular. 

This posting will feature Plaza Santiago, which sits below and just to the north of Plaza de Mirador. We'll take a look at its various structures and also at some of the artifacts that archeologists found at Tancama and other ancient sites in the region called the Huasteca. This was settled by the Huastec people, who migrated here from Guatemala around 1500 BC. (see Part 4 of this series). Tancama was abandoned at the end of the Epi-Classic period (900 AD), but the Huastec culture continues to this day in other areas of the Huasteca, including parts of the states of San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Vera Cruz, and Tamaulipas.

Overview

Portion of a site map showing Plaza Santiago. See Part 5 for the full map. The important structures are on the south, west, and east sides. There are a few traces of buildings in the northwest part of the site, but these are minimal. Unfortunately, after much research, this is the only map of Tancama I have found. It provides names for only a few buildings along with information about them. Most of these are in Plaza de Mirador (see Parts 5 & 6). Two exceptions are in Plaza Santiago. These are Edificio del Cuchillo de Obsidiana (Building of the Obsidian Knife - #11) and Edificio del Cuarto Adosado (Building of the Added Room - #6). 

The most significant structure of Plaza Santiago is the unnamed building that faces west from along the east side of the Plaza. For clarity's sake I will refer to it as the Eastside Building. It is a long, rectangular structure of four levels that extends on a north-south axis and has two huastecos on top (see 1st photo). Oddly, the site map shows these circular structures as rectangles on either end of the structure. South of the Eastside Building is Terraza del Sol (Terrace of the Sun), which contains a separate huasteco not shown on the map.

The southern side of the plaza is formed by the back side of structure #6, a building which actually faces south into Plaza de Mirador. Projecting north from the western end of structure #6 is structure #11, the Obsidian Knife Building. This faces east into the Plaza and has several levels which are topped by huastecos on its north and south ends. The northwest corner of the Plaza shows several structures on the map. However, as I mentioned, these are just outlines of buildings. The northern side of Plaza Santiago contains no buildings and overlooks Plaza de la Promesa to its north. 

Ixcuinan, the Huastec goddess of fertility. The statue was found at a site known as Castillo del Teayo, in San Luis Potosí. While no statue of Ixcuinan has yet been found at Tancama, she was worshipped throughout the Huasteca and her images have been found at numerous sites. When the Aztecs conquered the Huasteca, they associated Ixcuinan with their fertility goddess Tlazolteotl, much like they did with Ehecatl and Quetzalcoatl (see Part 5).

Because the ancient Huastecs lacked a written language, we know very little about Ixcuinan except that she was very important to their culture. The Aztecs thought her cult was similar to that of their own fertility goddess. They described Tlazolteotl as the "eater of filth", and believed she created fertility by consuming various waste products, including human excrement. She then transform the wastes into healthy new life. Since every Mesoamerican civilization was dependent upon the production of maiz (corn), propitiating the fertility goddess was extremely important. 

Plaza Santiago, viewed from its northwest corner. In the foreground, you can see the outline of one of the almost-vanished buildings that once stood here. In the left background is the low silhouette of the Eastside Building. In the upper right is a ramp that descends from the northeast corner of Plaza de Mirador. This shot gives you a sense of the expansiveness of Plaza Santiago, which is larger than and somewhat less enclosed than Plaza de Mirador. 

Anthropomorphic pot found at Tancama. An anthropomorphic object is one that has been made to resemble some human feature. The pot above was crafted to resemble a human head. It has eyes and a nose and the slightly opened mouth contains teeth.The ears have holes for earrings. Under the eyes, the face is painted to resemble tattoos. The precise meaning and use of such a pot is not clear. A priest or shaman may have used it in some ritual activity. On the other hand, it may have been a household object. What is clear is the skill and artistry of the potter.

 

Edificio del Cuarto Adosado stands on the Plaza's south side

A ramp leads down from Plaza de Mirador into Plaza Santiago. The view above is toward the west. The ramp begins on the east end of Edificio del Cuarto Adosado. What you see above is the back side of the structure, which faces into Plaza de Mirador. However, its top level would have made an excellent viewpoint for those who wanted to observe ceremonies or other activities conducted in Plaza Santiago.  While there may have been a path leading down in pre-hispanic times, this ramp is a 21st century creation. 

The rear of Edificio Cuarto Adosado, viewed toward the east. While this structure rises 4m (16ft) on the side facing into Plaza de Mirador, this side rises approximately 9m (29.5ft), making it almost twice as tall. The ancient architects who designed the building made use of the slope of the ridge on which Tancama is situated to create the south side of Plaza Santiago. There are five stepped-levels on this side. The first two provide raised walkways along the base of the building. Alternatively, these and the levels above could have been used for audience seating, much like those found in outdoor amphitheaters. 

The Huastec Life-Death statue. The figure was created during the Early Post-Classic period (900-1250 AD), near the end of the period when Tancama was occupied. It was found in San Luis Potosí, near the site of the Huastec city of Tamuin. Although it appears to be two different statues, the figures are actually two sides of the same statue. The young man on the left represents life. He is healthy, well-formed, and is dressed as an elite member of Huastec society. The skeletal figure on the right displays body organs and decay and represents death. Back-to-back, the statue represents duality and the cyclical nature of reality. 

The concepts of duality and the cyclicality were central to the Mesoamerican worldview. They are still expressed today in Mexico's Day of the Dead fiesta. Duality means that everything is composed of two opposite parts. For example: life and death, male and female, day and night. The two parts are actually a unity and you cannot fully understand one without its opposite. Related to duality is the cyclical aspect of reality. Day and night repeat themselves and the movements of celestial bodies are similarly cyclical. All life is a process of birth, death, and re-birth. The Life-Death statue expresses both of these concepts.

Edificio del Cuchillo de Obsidiana (the west side structure)

View toward the north, overlooking Edificio del Cuchillo de Obsidiana. The sloped wall of stones on the right is the west end of Edificio del Cuarto Adosado. The grassy area filled with trees below to the right (where the man is standing) is Plaza Santiago. A stone staircase leads down from the spot where this photo was taken to the first huasteco of the Obsidian Knife Building. The huasteco on the north end of this structure is out of sight under the trees. The structure connecting the two huastecos has three stepped-levels along each side.

This is the huasteco on the south end of the Obsidian Knife building. The Cuatro Adosado building's west end is visible in the center left. This huasteco is low and is only a few meters in diameter, making it relatively small compared to the rest of the circular structures at Tancama. There is a three-step staircase on its north side, but the stairs probably went all the way to the top at one time. 

Edificio del Cuchillo de Obsidiana was named for the broken blade found here when archeololgists excavated the site. The blade was made from black obsidian and is bi-facial, which means it wasn't just a random flake but was carefully worked. It may have been chipped by a local craftsman from a large block of obsidian called a "core". Alternatively, the finished blade may have been brought in through the trade networks. However, the obsidian itself did not originate in the Sierra Gorda area, but in the state of Hidalgo. This is known because scientists can now trace an obsidian object's exact point of origin. 

The north end of Edificio del Cuchillo de Obsidiana contains another huasteco. It has a small staircase on its south side and, like its twin on the south end, this huasteco is also small and low. The Obsidian Knife Building and the Eastside Building are both roughly rectangular, have several levels, and each contains two huastecos. However, a bit later in this posting, you will see that the structure on the east side is much larger and more complex.

Obsidian is volcanic glass and deposits of it only exist in areas that are geologically volcanic. Each site has its own specific chemical "fingerprint". The blade found here originated in an area known as Zacualtipán / Metzquititlán, a mountainous region of Hidalgo about 255km (158mi) from Tancama. By car, the torturously winding road can be covered in 6.5 hours. However, in pre-hispanic times it would have taken weeks of trudging over mountain trails. Other obsidian objects recovered at Tancama originated even further away in the Sierra de Pachuco (Hidalgo), El Paraíso (Querétaro), and Ucareo (Michoacán).

This statue of a female Huastec ruler was found in Veracruz in 2021. She is called "The Young Woman of Amajac" and is named after the pueblo where the statue was found. Her head-dress is significant because it identifies her as a ruler. We know this because of another statue of a male ruler , who wears an almost identical head-dress. In addition, the poses of the two figures are nearly identical. Along with the fertility goddess (see photo #3 above) and the female ball player (see Part 6), this figure confirms that Huastec women occupied some positions that were almost entirely male-dominated in other pre-hispanic societies. 

Structures along Plaza Santiago's east side

The Eastside Building, looking north from Plaza de Mirador. This structure continues the border along the east side of Tancama that begins in Plaza de Mirador with buildings #7, #8,and #9. Altogether, they form a barrier against intrusions by the common people living down the slope further to the east. The south end of the Eastside Building has a staircase that leads up to its third level. There are also staircases along the building's west side. This side faces into Plaza Santiago. Some of the rugged, heavily-wooded mountains which surround Tancama can be seen in the distance. (Photo from Lugares INAH)

 

The southwestern end of the Eastside Building. The ramp leading up to Plaza de Mirador is in the center right. This end of the structure has three levels, with a staircase leading up from the second to the third level. Although some parts of the Eastside Building seem to have been constructed for ceremonial purposes, it is possible that this part may have been used as an elite residence. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any reports about its excavation or about any artifacts found here.

A solitary huasteco stands just behind the Eastside Building's south end. The photo was taken looking north from the Terraza del Sol. For some reason, this huasteco doesn't appear on the site map. The building is intriguing because it was built slightly outside the barrier formed by the Eastside Building, with a narrow alley separating the two structures.

The position of this huasteco is puzzling because there seems to have been plenty of room for it within Plaza Santiago. The ceremonial areas of pre-hispanic cities were nearly always laid out according to specific plans mimicking the patterns of the cosmos. To me, the huasteco's placement seems to be unusually random. 

Carole checks out the central section of the Eastside Building. Tancama underwent centuries of looting before serious archeological work began here in 1999. The formal studies and excavations lasted about 12 years until the site was opened to the public in 2011. Although this may seem like a long time, it should be remembered that archeological digs at some sites in Mexico have been going on for at least 200 years. 

Unlike some of those more famous cultures, the Huastec civilization did not catch the attention of the archeological community until fairly recently. Other, grander sites like Teotihuacán and Chichen Itza were not as isolated as those in the Huasteca region. Since they contained larger, grander structures, they were apparently more attractive. 

Only recently has the Huastec culture begun to be seriously investigated and new discoveries occur regularly. Ironically, the Huastec culture long pre-dates those more well-known sites and, while the people who occupied Teotihuacán and Chichen Itza vanished centuries ago, the Huastec-speaking people still exist today. 

Two more huastecos were built on top of the Eastside Building. These are the same two seen in photo #1. The one to the right of center occupies the middle of the structure and the other sits on its north end. Both are larger than the ones on Edificio del Cuchillo de Obsidiana. Just beyond the northern huasteco, the land drops down to Terraza del Norte (North Terrace) and then to Plaza de la Promesa (Plaza of the Promise). 

This completes Part 7 of my Sierra Gorda series. I hope you have enjoyed it. If so, please leave any thoughts or questions in the Comments section below or email me directly. If you leave a question, please include your email address so that I may reply in a timely manner.

Hasta luego, Jim

 

Sierra Gorda Part 6: Tancama's Ball Court and Temple/Palaces in Plaza el Mirador

The pre-hispanic juego de pelota (ball game) was played throughout Mesoamerica. The inhabitants of the region called the Huasteca may have adopted the juego de pelota during their early contacts with the Olmecs, who invented it. The area of play included the long narrow court, as well as the sides of the structures which parallel it. Elite spectators stood on the tops of the parallel structures, while lesser folks sat on the steps of adjacent buildings. The exact rules of the game differed somewhat from one culture or civilization to another, but the basic elements of the game were the same. 

In the previous posting, we looked at Plaza de Mirador, the most important ceremonial area of Tancama. The focus in that posting was on the structures that form the boundaries of the south and west sides of the Plaza. This time, we will examine the ball court, located inside the Plaza, as well as the palaces and temples which form its northern and eastern boundaries. For maps showing how to get to Jalpan and from there to the Tancama Archeological Zone, see Parts 1 and 5 of this series.

Overview

Plaza el Mirador stands at the south end of the ridge along which Tancama was built. The pyramid called Edificio de las Mariposas de Cobre ("Building of the Copper Butterflies", marked as structure #1) is the highest point in Tancama. It stands at the top of the ridge on the south end of the Plaza. The Plaza's west side is formed by the Cuatro  Huastecos (structures #2-5). I showed all these structures in Part 5. The Juego de Pelota is structure #10, which is slightly northwest of the middle of the Plaza. The playing court is the slot that is bounded on the north and south by structures A and B/B'. 

Bordering the north side of the Plaza is structure #6, a large palace/temple called Edificio del Cuarto Adosado (Building of the Added Room). The east (right) side of the Plaza is bordered on its south end by structure #8, the Edificio de los Anzuelos (Building of the Fishhooks). Structure #7 completes the eastern boundary of the Plaza and, along with structure #6, forms its northeast corner. This long low building is called the Edificio del Personaje Huasteco (Building of the Huastec Man). To see the full site map of Tancama, please refer to Part 5 of this series.

 El Juego de Pelota 

The ball court is 18m (59ft) long. The grassy area between structures A (left) and B/B' (right) is the main playing field. The lower walls of these parallel structures may have also formed part of the playing area. Elite spectators would have stood along the tops of the two structures, as seen in the painting at the beginning of this posting. Through the trees in the background, you can see Edificio de los Anzuelos, with Edificio del Personaje Huasteco to its left. The trees are second growth and the area would probably have been clear of vegetation when Tancama was occupied (200-950 AD).

The juego de pelota was invented by the Olmecs around 1500 BC and they introduced it to other cultures through their trade networks. Variations of it were played for the next 3000 years throughout Mesoamerica, from Honduras in Central America to New Mexico in the U.S. Played by both professionals and amateurs, the game was used for religious and political purposes, but sometimes was just for public entertainment. 

Clay statue of a Huastec ball player. The statue was created in the Early Classic period (250-550 AD) and was found in the northern Veracruz area. This figure gives us a very good idea of what a Huastec player looked like when fully "suited up". It is clear that body protection was important. The players probably did not intentionally collide with one another like those in American football or British rugby. Rather, the protection was against the hard rubber ball, which could weigh as much as 22 kilograms (10 lbs) and could cause serious injuries or even death.

The player above wears a flat, circular helmet, probably made of heavy leather. A wood and leather "yoke" circles his mid-section. His left knee and upper leg, body parts used to strike the ball, are wrapped with leather straps. Finally, his neck and shoulders are covered by other protective layers. During the game, players were not allowed to use their hands or feet to propel the ball. Instead, they used their upper legs, shoulders, and chests. The games were fiercely contested and the stakes could be very high. On some occasions, the losing team was ritually sacrificed. (Photo from The Ball Game, by Mary Ellen Miller)

Structure B/B', viewed from its northeastern end. This three-level structure forms the south side of the ball court, which is aligned in an east-west direction. Like the other structures at Tancama, B/B' was built with rounded river stones and then covered with cut stones. In the background you can see the pyramid called Edificio de las Mariposas de Cobre. 

The ball game was deeply rooted in the culture of the Huastecs. On a religious basis, the game was viewed as a metaphor for the movement of heavenly bodies, such as the sun, moon, and Venus. It is no coincidence that the court at Tancama was built in an east-to-west direction, because that is the path the sun takes across the sky. The moon and Venus follow different courses, which sets up the conflict that is played out on the ball court. Further, the cyclical movements of the celestial bodies were thought to be related to the cycle of life, including that of the staple food, maiz (corn).

Structure B/B' viewed from the south. From this point, you can see the three levels of B/B' and the steps that lead up to the third level. The structure has an overall shape of a capial "L". Structure A, which parallels B/B' on the north side of the court, is laid out in a straight line. The shape of B/B' may be different than that of A because it had additional functions. Edificio del Cuarto Adosado stands in the background to the north. 

The ball game served other purposes beyond those related to religion. Sometimes it was used as an alternative to armed conflict, in order to settle disputes between cities, or factions within a city. In addition, after a battle, captured warriors were sometimes forced to play the game with their captors, but the contest was fixed so that the captors always won. The captive warriors were then sacrificed to celebrate the victory in the battle as well as the game. The game was also played for public amusement and this was often accompanied by heavy betting. Those who lost were stripped of their clothing and other belongings.

Statue of a female Huastec ball player. The figure, found in the Veracruz area, was carved from stone sometime during the Classic Period (200-950 AD). She wears a peaked headdress and circular earrings. Protection is provided by a yoke around her middle and kneepads. She was on the winning side, because her right hand grips the hair of a sacrificed player's head, which hangs down below. Just below the head, the name "Four Death" is inscribed. This is apparently the name of the losing player. The name indicates that the statue may commemorate an actual event, with the player and her victim representing real people.

The statue is significant because it shows the prominent position of women in Huastec society. In fact, I have never seen any other example of a female ball player in my visits to other pre-hispanic sites all over Mexico and Guatemala. The various sites in the Huasteca region have yielded many examples of women in roles usually dominated by the men of other cultures. Huastec sculptures have been discovered showing women as female deities, warriors, governors, priestesses, and--in this case--a ball player.

Edificio del Cuarto Adosado

Edificio del Cuarto Adosado is one of the more complex structures in the Plaza. The name means "Building of the Added Room". It appears to have been constructed in phases, with one of its rooms added during a later phase. The building faces south and overlooks the ball court. Four levels rise from the the Plaza to a height of 4m (16ft), with a room on the right side of the base level. During excavation, archeologists found a depression covered with white stucco, which they believe was for collecting water. This is reinforced by a drainage system connected to the depression.

A staircase ascends in two flights up to the fourth level. The top is broad and flat and there may have been one or more temples made of perishable materials. It is also possible that this was an elite dwelling. If so, it would have been occupied by people of the highest level, like a ruler or chief priest. Several burials were discovered in the top level, along with grave goods that were distinctively Huastec. 

Carole inspects the stonework of the Edificio del Cuarto Adosado's first level. The staircase is built of cut stone and rises five steps to a retaining wall. This was added by the people who re-constructed the site. It must have taken immense work to move and cut all the stones necessary to build a structure like this. Some of the stones would have had to be moved a considerable distance from the riverbed where they originated. This would have been particularly difficult because the pre-hispanic Huastecs had no draft animals or wheels, so human porters would have been necessary. 

A stela (standing stone), is located in the middle of Plaza de Mirador. Like the stelae in front of the pyramid's staircase, this one has no inscriptions or carvings of any kind. However, such monuments always have some meaning, even if it is unknown to us now. It may have been erected to commemorate some important event, such as a birth, death, or victory in battle. In the background, one of the circular Huastecos can be seen through the trees. Huastecos are found in each of the plazas at Tancama. Their shape is related to Ehecatl, the wind god, a very important Huastec deity. (See Part 5).

Edificio de los Anzuelos

The name of this building comes from the anzuelos (fishhooks) discovered here. This is one of the best-preserved structures at Tancama. There are three levels, with a staircase on the front (west) side and another on the right (south) side. The stairs on the front are bordered by stone balustrades. The photo is from the Museo Historico de la Sierra Gorda in Jalpan and appears to have been taken from the top of the Edificio de las Mariposas de Cobre. The view is toward the northeast. 

Archeologists found a number of copper fishhooks among the grave goods within a tomb at the top level. The tomb contained an individual male and its location indicates he was a person of high status. It is likely that the copper fishhooks were made locally rather than being imported through the trade networks. The Huastecs had begun to smelt and work copper in the late Classic and Early Post-Classic eras. They were just starting the cultural transition from the Neolithic (New Stone Age) into the Chalcolithic (Copper Age) when the Spanish arrived. 

View of Edificio de los Anzuelos from the northeast corner. The building faces west into the space that is directly in front of the Pyramid of the Copper Butterflies. The corner of the pyramid can be seen in the center right of the photo. Together, the two structures form the southeast corner of the Plaza. This corner is also the beginning of the corridor called the Callejon, which forms the main route leading into the Plaza. The Fishhook Building may have been either a temple or the residence of an elite family. The two-level structure attached to the left side of the building is the south end of Edificio del Personaje Huasteco.

Edificio del Personaje Huasteco

View of Edificio del Personaje Huasteco looking north from the Anzuelos building. Carole reads an informational sign in front of the structure (marked as #7). The long, low, rectangular building faces west into the plaza and overlooks the east end of the ball court. It has two levels and stretches from the north end of Edificio de los Anzuelos to the northeast corner of Plaza de Mirador. The structure was apparently built in two phases. My best guess is that it functioned as the base for elite homes made of long-vanished perishable materials.

The name of the structure means "Building of the Huastec Man" and refers to a tomb excavated in the top level. The male individual buried there had several physical characteristics identified with the Huastec elite. These included cranial deformation and filed teeth. In addition, the grave goods included Huastec-style ceramics. It is likely that most of the other human remains found at Tancama were also Huastec people. However, this person seems to have been the most clearly identifiable. In addition to his physical characteristics, his place of burial in Tancama's most important ceremonial plaza also indicates elite status. 

Building of the Huastec Man, viewed from its northwest corner. The Fishhook building can be seen in the distance. Along with Edificio del Cuarto Adosado, the Huastec Man structure forms the northeast corner of the Plaza de Mirador. The building faces west, toward the eastern end of the ball court, and would have provided an elevated spot for spectators to view the game. In the middle of the west side is a staircase that leads up to the second level. Like the other buildings at Tancama, this one was constructed with rounded river stones and covered by cut stones. 

View of the eastern (back) side of Edifcio del Personaje Huasteco, looking south. The ridge drops off fairly steeply to the left. Together with the Edificios de los Anzuelos and del Callejon, the Edificio del Personaje Huastec forms the eastern boundary of the Plaza. This barrier, set along the top of a steep slope, separates the Plaza from the commoners further to the east. This zone of exclusion was a deliberate strategy aimed at enhancing elite power by creating a sense of mystery. The same strategy was followed by most of the elites of civilizations throughout Mesoamerica for several millennia. 

This completes Part 6 of my Sierra Gorda series. I hope you have enjoyed it. If so, please leave any thoughts or questions in the Comments section below or email me directly. If you leave a question in the Comments section, please remember to include your email address so that I may respond in a timely fashion.

Hasta luego, Jim