The archaeological site of Chimalhuacán is surrounded by the city of the same name on the outskirts of México City, one of the largest and most densely megalopolises on Earth.
The name of this Náhuatl ceremonial center translates as the place of the shields, a fact which is reflected by the many stone-carved shields found at the site and its surroundings.
Also known as Los Poches, Chimalhuacán also shows evidence of being inhabited by Chichimec and Mixtec peoples during the time of the famous triple alliance that kickstarted the Aztec empire.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Chimalhuacán was first settled by Mesoamerican peoples in the 4th century BCE. Still, the vast majority of the architecture visible at the site today dates to the 11th century CE.
The settlement of Chimalhuacán is also known to have hosted the great Nezahualcóyotl, who hailed from Texcoco and became one of the greatest military figures in the history of the Aztec empire.
Though much of the archaeological site has been destroyed over the centuries to make way for modern construction, there are still plenty of interesting structures and objects to explore.
On exhibit within the museum and inside the site are several objects discovered during excavations in the 1980s.
Within the site’s largest temple, it is also possible to observe a handful of stone-carved figures.
Though Chimalhuacán’s Mesoamerican ballcourt has not survived, one of its rings was recently discovered and set into the facade of the site’s museum.
One of the most photographed attractions at Chimalhuacán that represents a fire deity is actually a fiberglass mold replica based on a sculpture found elsewhere.
Like virtually all Mesoamerican cities and settlements, Chimalhuacán relied heavily on agriculture but also had the advantage of easy fishing in Lake Texcoco.
Several decades ago, when large sections of Lake Texcoco were still navigable, folks from the region still used to fish its waters using canoes identical to those of their ancestors.
But the story of the place today known as Chimalhuacán stretches way further back than even Mesoamerican civilization, as it is also the site of the discovery of the so-called Man of Chimalhuacán, who is thought to have lived 12,000 years ago.
Among the burial of the man of Chimalhuacán, researchers also found stone tools, as well as mammoth tusks covered with markings.
If you go
Municipalities such as Chimalhuacán and Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl are reachable via public transit from Mexico City. However, if you decide to visit, it is strongly recommended that you take a taxi or use a ride-sharing app, as the area may present hazards to lost tourists.
The trip from downtown Mexico City to Chimalhuacán usually takes about one hour but can be much longer during rush hour. It is a good idea to go early on weekends to avoid traffic.
This region of México state is jampacked with other extremely interesting sites, such as Acozac, so making a list of sites to visit and trying to hit several during an extended day trip is a great idea.
