The Temple of the New Fire at the Huixachtécatl (Hill of the Star)

Presentation

The Cerro de la Estrella (Hill of the Star) displays a great archaeological potential, with several settlements that spanned from the Preclassic Period to the last years of the prehispanic times, together with some others located in the surrounding areas which show evidence of populational continuity after México’s Conquest, namely Iztapalapa, Culhuacán and Mexicaltzingo. The Temple of the New Fire is one of these archaeological sites and the focus of our present investigation, completed through FAMSI’s support.

One of the aspects that characterize the research we have conducted at Cerro de la Estrella is the scarcity of published results. Most of the information is scattered in government archives, or is in the hands of private individuals, or at best, has been briefly referred to in scholarly works, besides the dissemination of other archaeological endeavors, which are scarce. For this reason, we proceeded with the collection of information and the analysis of archaeological materials and historic sources, with the purpose of studying the Temple of the New Fire in the frame of the ancient State and the existing connection between the hegemonic centers and the hill sanctuaries from the Basin of México.

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