Pahñu, Archaeological site in Tecozautla Municipality, Mexico.
Pahñu is an archaeological site in Tecozautla Municipality situated on Hualtepec hill with multiple stone structures and ceremonial spaces. The buildings spread across the elevated terrain of the La Mesilla region in different clusters and arrangements.
The settlement developed between 300 and 1100 CE and came after the Preclassic period of Chupícuaro culture. It existed alongside the Teotihuacan civilization and shows how communities were connected across the region.
The name comes from the Otomi language, where 'pa' means heat and 'hñu' means pad, reflecting the indigenous roots of the Mezquital Valley. These words show how the original inhabitants connected their surroundings to everyday life.
The site has been protected by the National Institute of Anthropology and History since 2007 and opened to the public in 2015 with marked walking paths. The hillside requires walking over uneven ground, so bring sturdy shoes and water for your visit.
Buried layers reveal distinct patterns of how the Xajay culture organized society and developed new technologies over time. The recovered artifacts show details about daily tasks and the tools people relied on for their work.
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