Mezcala Temple — La Montaña
Late Classic (600–800 CE)·Mezcala culture·🇲🇽 Guerrero, Mexico
About
About Mezcala Temple — La Montaña
Mezcala Temple — La Montaña in Guerrero, Mexico is a Late Classic (600–800 CE) temple-complex attributed to Mezcala culture. Hilltop temple with Mezcala mask and temple platform on Guerrero sierra. Mezcala style masks and temple-pyramids controlling Balsas river route.
Why it mattersKey Mezcala culture compound illustrating Teotihuacan urban organization
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Urban craft specialization
- 02Mural iconography interpretation
Theories
- 01Multi-ethnic barrio model
- 02Theocratic palace administration
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 650 CE
- Period
- Late Classic (600–800 CE)
- Culture
- Mezcala culture
- Purpose
- Hilltop temple with Mezcala mask and temple platform on Guerrero sierra
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 650 CE
Initial construction
c. 1960 CE
Modern INAH excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
17.6000° N · 99.6000° W · 1300 m · 4 mapped features
Mezcala Temple — La Montaña — Palace Platform
palacePalatial platform with murals
17.6002° N · 99.5999° WMezcala Temple — La Montaña — Mural Patio
patioPainted patio with jaguar murals
17.5998° N · 99.5998° WMezcala Temple — La Montaña — Pyramid Annex
pyramidSmall pyramid within compound
17.6004° N · 99.6002° WMezcala Temple — La Montaña — Secondary Compound
compoundSecond patio compound
17.5996° N · 99.6001° W