Zona Arqueológica de Cantona, Archaeological site in Tepeyahualco Municipality, Mexico.
Zona Arqueologica de Cantona is an ancient settlement with residential ruins, religious structures, and ball courts spread across a large area. The sites are connected by paved pathways that show how the city was carefully organized.
This settlement was an important trade center between 600 and 1000 CE, with a large population supporting its commerce and growth. It was abandoned around 1050 and quickly faded away.
The people who lived here were skilled at mining and trading obsidian, the black volcanic glass from nearby mountains. This material was highly valued across the region for making tools and sacred objects.
The ruins are spread across a large area that takes several hours to explore, so bring water and sun protection for your visit. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and the site sits at elevation where the sun can be intense.
The buildings were constructed using precisely cut stones stacked without mortar, showing the advanced building skills of the people who lived here. This dry-stone method allowed many structures to survive intact over the centuries.
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