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Cuicuilco

archaeological site, Mexico

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Cuicuilco was a significant archaeological site in the Valley of Mexico, flourishing during the Late Formative Period (300 BCE - 100 CE). It is known for its distinctive round pyramid, constructed with a lava block facing over a clay-and-rubble core. This pyramid, which had ramps leading to its summit, may have been dedicated to Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent deity.1

The Cuicuilco-Ticomán culture, which succeeded earlier village cultures in the valley, retained traits like the manufacture of solid figurines. The site's pyramid is partially covered by lava from a volcanic eruption that occurred around the beginning of the Common Era. Cuicuilco represents a transition from village life to urban culture, with new religious ideas and art forms emerging during this period.12

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