El Cerrito

El Cerrito is an archaeological site in Corregidora, Mexico, featuring a large stepped pyramid made of stone, ceremonial platforms, and several plazas across the excavated grounds. Altars and stone walls mark the different levels of the complex, which extends over multiple terraces.

The site served as a religious and political center from around 300 BCE for several successive civilizations. Teotihuacan, Toltec, and Chichimeca groups used the grounds for ceremonial purposes over more than a millennium and a half.

Pottery recovered from excavations shows trade routes connecting Guatemala with northern territories, revealing how this region participated in economic networks across centuries. The ceramic styles reflect contact between different communities and their shared ceremonial practices.

The site lies roughly seven kilometers (around four miles) from downtown Querétaro and includes a museum with four exhibition halls displaying about 170 recovered objects. Guided tours help explain the different construction phases and the use of each section.

Stone sculptures of Chac Mool and atlantean figures still preserve traces of red, yellow, and blue paint on their surfaces. These color remnants offer a rare glimpse into the original appearance of ceremonial objects.