PXL_20250414_154522325

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:49:23 +0100

In the course of their excavations, archaeologists uncovered a construction period previous to the one seen today above ground. This central part has stucco flooring, a stairway and a shrine. The stairs are flanked by balustrades which end below in two huge split-tongued snake heads, eąch sculpted from gray quarry stone and covered with stucco painted pink to emphasize their features. The central shrine's stairs were once also decorated, but with black-outlined, green circles over a red background. This level of construction coincides chronologically and shares important architectural symbolism with the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (150-250 AD).

The stairway was later used in the rebuilding of a new stage at a higher level by means of fills over which floors were laid. At the new stage you see that the decorative heads at the bottom of the stairway balustrades were changed to represent the heads of wild cats.