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At the beginning of this period, the first urbanistic features as well as
evidence of mural paintings and of their relations with Teotihuacan, Monte
Alban and Gulf coast appeared; ceramics included a great variety of local
and foreign types and the polychrome pottery, Cholula’s hallmark, had a
great diffusion. Basically, there was a complete activity in the city. At
the end of the same period, this activity ended with the sudden and
accelerated abandonment of the place transferring the ruling location to the
place where the municipality of Cholula now stands downtown.
Indubitably, the Cholula’s influence
radiated over many town of Meso-America. The best known element exported to
Meso-America was the polychrome ceramics which rapidly spread to other
regions. In spite of the abandonment of the great city (today’s
archaeological zone), the ceremonial center was transferred where Cholula’s
downtown now stands. The settlement in this area continued until the
Spaniard arrival. This fact makes it one of the few cities with a longer
historical sequence. |
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| Around 100 BC, the
first village was settled in San Andrés; later on, it was relocated to the
east shore of the lagoon (where the pyramid now stands) in Santa Catarina.
Cholula was a secondary village of the current town of Coapa. The economy
was probably based on fishing and local plant cultivation. Somehow, the
village strengthen and developed in such a way that by this time they had
already constructed three pyramidal structures gradually increasing its
importance and dimensions. |
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The way of ruling in Cholula was not always the same. Torquemada mentions
that after the establishment of the city, and after Tula’s destruction,
Cholula was ruled by a lord which was subjected to the old Chichimecs.
Afterwards, there was a strict government formed by people of war. The
rulers were chosen every given period. Later on, a government formed by four
lords was established; when Quetzalcoatl moved to Tlapalan, he took four
disciples from Cholula with him. He then ordered them to go back to their
city. Torquemada mentions the following about the four lords:
...the lords went back to the city and divided the
domain in four tetrarchs...although the lords
recognized the government, they were
actually the rulers.
Therefore, nothing could be done if it
was not determined by the four lords...
(Torquemada, II:351) |
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There were subsequent migrations which may have
divided the territory even more leading to the creation of the barrios.
According to Carrasco, the latter group is called Colomochcas in the
Toltec-Chichimec History. Although its identity is not explained,
Colomochcatl is mentioned in the codex. It is a character that traveled to
Mixtlan.
arrived in Quauhtinchan and finally settled in Cholula.
This new group is identified with the barrio of
San Andrés Colomochco. |
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However, the downfall could not have been so
drastic due to the religious importance of the city; some noble and priest
burials of the Postclassic Period could make us assume this site was a
sanctuary. However, we know that during this last period the zone was
inhabited by common people who built their homes in different areas. In fact,
most of the burials found consisted of simple offerings, which make us
assume they belong to this occupation period; a similar situation occurred
in Monte Alban, where dwellings were built and tombs were reused.
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