Cantona: an impressive but underrated archaeological site
Joseph Sorrentino
January 19, 2023
At its peak, the ancient city of Cantona had a population of around 100,000 people. (Photos by Joseph Sorrentino)
Cantona, located in the northeast corner of Puebla state, is one of the most impressive pre-Hispanic ruins I’ve visited in Mexico, but for some reason, it doesn’t get nearly the attention of sites like Teotihuacán or Monte Alban.
Which is a shame because it’s only about an hour-and-a-half drive from Puebla city, and the excavated portion boasts pyramids, ball courts and numerous ancient streets and plazas. It’s well worth the trip.
The first people to populate the area where Cantona was built arrived around 1000 B.C. (its name is derived from Caltonal, a Nahuatl word meaning “House of the Sun.”). It’s not certain who these ancient people were, but they may have been Olmecas or Popolocas. It’s believed that the city eventually hosted just under 100,000 people.
Obsidian is abundant in the area, and Cantona’s residents used it in tools, weapons and decorative elements. Researchers know these early settlers traded it for other goods, a practice that eventually turned Cantona into an important regional power.
More:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/travel/cantona-an-impressive-but-underrated-archaeological-site/
ETC., ETC., ETC.
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