| Mexico is renowned for its many famous and | | | | stripped away by the scholar Margarita Vargas |
| mysterious ancient archeological sites. There are some | | | | Betancourt (see her 2002 paper). During its occupation, |
| 20+ Mesoamerican sites complete with intact ancient | | | | many Christian 'legends' have become intermixed with |
| buildings still standing in Mexico. The most mysterious | | | | the legend of this one of the "400 Gods of Pulque". |
| and ancient of these is probably Palenque as it has a | | | | Palenque |
| history dating as far back as 967 B. C. - perhaps even | | | | Being possibly the most ancient of these 5 sites, |
| earlier. The most recent of these five is El Tepozteco | | | | Palenque probably has the richest and most |
| (in Tepoztlan) - having been taken by Spanish | | | | mysterious history. Palenque is located in the state of |
| conquerors as recently as 1502. The mystical visitor | | | | Chiapas. It is a "sure thing" visit for all archeology, |
| and backpacker to Mexico might find any and all of | | | | history, Mayan, Mesoamerican and, yes, even some |
| these sites of great natural and archeological interest. | | | | UFO fans. The site is so popular that even the New |
| Chichen Itza | | | | York Times has produced travel articles to it and |
| The world famous Pre-Hispanic site of Chichen Itza | | | | suggested some very low cost shelter near the site. |
| probably started going extinct after 1000 A. D. (lasting | | | | One of these camps was available for as little as $4 |
| until the 1200's). It is located in Yucatan State and said | | | | per night. $18 seemed to be the highest price with |
| to be accessible by a 2 hour bus trip from Cancun. | | | | shower and toilet. |
| The site is not one but actually two cities (likely once | | | | Tenochtitlan |
| city-states) occupied first by the Mayans - and later | | | | Tenochtitlan is perhaps the most recent of the grand |
| held by the Toltec-Mayans. This is a UNESCO World | | | | Mesoamerican cities still standing - it was taken under |
| Heritage Site. | | | | Spanish control in 1521 who unfortunately destroyed |
| El Tepozteco | | | | much of it. The site is also fabulous for being in the |
| As mentioned, El Tepozteco is probably the most | | | | center of Lake Toxcoco. This is one of the locations |
| recent of these ancient Mesoamerican sites complete | | | | memorialized in history for its bloodthirsty battles on the |
| with an actual Aztec temple. Most fascinating about | | | | infamous and still standing ball courts where the losing |
| this little-touted site is its location in the still living | | | | teams were ritualistically decapitated. One should also |
| municipality of Tepoztlan. There are many legends | | | | see the fabulous Moctezuma palace which one |
| surrounding this little structure. These have been | | | | housed zoological gardens, aquariums and aviaries. |