Tetelihtic pyramids identified as ancient solar observatory

New archaeological analyses have revealed that the approximately 2,500-year-old pyramids of Tetelihtic served as a solar observatory. Located in the Teteles de Ávila Castillo municipality within the northern Sierra of Puebla, Mexico, this site is identified as the oldest and only astronomical complex of its kind found outside of the Maya region.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported that the “Group E settlement complex” demonstrates sophisticated astronomical knowledge. The alignment of the pyramid-like platforms is comparable to structures found in Uaxactún. These findings provide new insights into the cultural relationships between the Huastec people and the Maya during the early settlement of the northern Sierra.

Archaeologist Alberto Diez Barroso Repizo and his team noted that the architecture reflects a society that integrated astronomical observations into the organization of its ceremonial spaces.