Xochicalco, Morelos, Mexico

Xochicalco is a pre-Columbian archaeological site located in the western part of the Mexican state of Morelos, about 38 km southwest of Cuernavaca. The name Xochicalco comes from Nahuatl and means “Place of the House of Flowers.” The fortified hilltop settlement flourished between approximately 650 and 900 CE during the Epiclassic period, following the collapse of Teotihuacan and before the rise of Toltec civilization. Notable for its multicultural character, Xochicalco displays architectural and artistic influences from various Mesoamerican traditions, including Teotihuacan, Maya, and Zapotec elements. The site’s most renowned structure is the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl), featuring elaborate relief carvings that depict feathered serpents, seated figures, and calendrical glyphs. Other significant structures include a ball court, sweat baths, an astronomical observatory, and multiple plazas. Archaeological evidence suggests Xochicalco served as an important