Tlatilco

Tlatilco is a pre-classic settlement site in the urban area of Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico. The area spreads across several city blocks and lies among modern residential buildings, with some excavation zones marked by fences and information panels.

Farming groups settled here around 2500 BC and used the fertile lakeside land for agriculture and fishing. The site was discovered during the 20th century when construction work for a brick factory revealed numerous graves with offerings.

Ceramic figurines show women with elaborate hairstyles, dancers in motion, and people with two faces, possibly representing duality or transformation. These objects were placed in graves and likely served as companions for the deceased on their journey to the afterlife.

The site is embedded in a residential neighborhood, so visitors walk through narrow streets between houses and shops. Tours provide access to selected areas, and some artifacts are displayed in nearby museums.

Numerous dog burials were found alongside human remains, pointing to a close ritual relationship between people and dogs. Some dogs were buried in baskets or pots, as if they too were part of the mourning community.