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located in the north side, the remains consist of foundations and walls of palaces that show
Teotihuacán influence. Another area was housing zone at the middle of the hill, built during the late Classic period (600 to 900 CE). In 2003, specialists from the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) worked to document petroglyphs found in various areas of the park, registering 210 in eleven groups, but they believe there are still more. Some of the petroglyphs are aligned with certain annual solar events.
219:, Chichimeca and Culhua-Mexica cultures and range from 1500 BCE to 1521. Excavations have found the Temple of the New Fire, the Sanctuary, the Villa Estrellas, 144 caves, the remains of walls and evidence of terracing. The most important of these is the former plaza and temple of the New Fire Ceremony, which is on the top of the hill. This archeological site can be visited through a guided tour.
252:, but the agency has not acted to move those living within the area. Instead it only requires that buildings be no more than two stories tall and to be notified before any major excavation so that salvage operations can be done. One last effort to stop encroachment, especially in the major archeological areas has been two stretches of border wall, the last constructed in 2009.
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The settlements have been made by groups of poor people, unable to purchase or rent living space. Later these groups organize to regularize their possession of the land. Some of this has not be by the poor, but by those able to build houses and buy cars shortly after they have legal possession of the land.
267:
There are also more than 110 small caves which are important geologically and culturally, with evidence of human habitation over various epochs. Some of the more accessible caves have been damaged by people, including
Concheros dancers using them for ceremonies. The Passion Play attracts thousands of
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To try and stop this process various other laws and declarations have been applied to the areas including declaring et a Zona
Ecological y Cultural of Mexico City in 1999 and putting under the Ley Federal sobre Monumentos y Zonas Arqueológicos, Artísticos e Históricos in 2007. However, these efforts
143:
The hill and park are the scene of the annual
Passion Play, which ascends the main road of the park to the Museo del Fuego Nuevo . The Passion Play attracts thousands of visitors each year with its highlight being the reenactment of the Crucifixion at a place called Calvario but is really the base of
135:
Recreational facilities include picnic tables, grills, playgrounds, sports facility and a lookout point. Sporting activities practiced in the park include hiking and running. The picnic area is administered by the borough and the
Secretariat of Education, which provides activities for schoolchildren.
81:
Most of the administration of the park falls under the
Secretaría de Agricultura y Recursos Hidráulicos, with the objectives being a recreational and cultural zone for the borough to increase tourism. Of all the parks and green spaces in the city, it is the most abused with seasonal farming, illegal
263:
Most of the danger archeologically has been to the numerous petroglyphs and caves in the park area. The park contains over 200 petroglyphs at risk of destruction. The
Matlolotzin group of petroglyphs are found on the south side of the hill and are the most damaged by graffiti. Some have even been
243:
Since its establishment in 1938, the park has shrunk in size from 1,100 hectares to somewhere between 143 and 192 hectares. This is due to illegal settlements and other encroachment onto the land, which even includes the Panteón Civil San Nicolás
Tolentino cemetery in the original designated area.
225:
Ceramic and stone sculpture materials were discovered in the west side of
Huizachtecatl that apparently was made within the 100 to 500 years CE; these resemble other similar pieces found in Zacatenco, north of Mexico City. The constructions here were built between the year 100 and 650 AD and are
156:
in 1938, with an original area of 1,100 hectares. However, the growth of Mexico City has encroached on the park, despite various attempts to protect it, reducing its size by about ninety percent and stripping away all of its wild vegetation. The trees there now are due to reforestation efforts.
37:
The park was originally designated in 1938 with 1,100 hectares, but the growth of the city has encroached on it and left it with less than 200 hectares. The park is meant to provide cultural and recreational opportunity as well as to protect the mountain, which is important archaeologically and
139:
The park is filled with small caves, especially on the mountain proper. These caves have been a source of ghost stories and legends in the area, which include stories about the Devil, and youths lost in them. Another states that there is a tunnel under the hill that connects with a cemetery.
82:
human settlements, areas used for grazing, the extraction of minerals, the dumping of garbage and even a cemetery. A wall has been constructed around parts of the park to protect it, especially the archeological site, from further encroachments by surrounding neighborhoods.
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performed once every 52 years. The most important archeological remains in the park are related to this. The last New Fire ceremony took place in 1507. Today, the hill remains important culturally, as the scene of
Iztapalapa’s annual Passion Play.
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The most recent find was in 2006, when a pyramid base was discovered in what is called Calvary at the top of the mountain. This base dates to the Teotihuacan period, about 1300 years ago. INAH has decided not to excavate the base.
248:
have not been sufficient to guarantee the preservation of the park. As of 2009, there were about 180 families inside the park proper. The 2007 effort made the park and some areas outside an archeological zone under
118:
90:
The park is centered on the Cerro de la Estrella, a small mountain 2,450 metres (8,040 ft) above sea level and 224 metres (735 ft) above the city. It is the highest point in the borough of
417:
413:
62:
The park was originally declared in 1938 with about 1,100 hectares but today it is considered to have somewhere between 143 and 192. The park is completely within
54:
culture. The park and the archaeological sites remain in danger of destruction by encroachment, use of land for agriculture, graffiti and the dumping of garbage.
568:
136:
The lookout point at the top of the hill provides one of the best views of the city. It has benches with pre Hispanic motifs and five telescopes for viewing.
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and for the most part, the present day. Very early settlements were village and on near the mountain’s slopes. The largest settlement near the mountain was
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94:. The hill is also called Huizachtepetl which means “mountain of thorns.” It was made by volcanic processes, as part of the small mountain chain in the
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However, early archeological remains can be found in many parts of the park, including those which have since been covered over by urban sprawl.
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Another danger to the land is the appropriation of it for use for growing crops and as pasture, with fires lit in the area to clear space.
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The original wildlife of the area is extinct, and most animals here now are rodents, including squirrels. The trees are mostly
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817:
636:"Inauguran barda perimetral del Cerro de la Estrella" [Inaugurate the perimeter wall of the Cerro de la Estrella].
940:
507:
Tatiana Adalid (April 18, 1999). "Cerro de la Estrella: Drama Ecologico" [Cerro de la Estrella:Ecological Drama].
30:
is centered on the Cerro de la Estrella mountain which is located entirely within eastern Mexico City, in the borough of
832:
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Many of the caves were sealed off by those who took over the land and more have been filed with garbage and graffiti.
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Yanireth Israde (August 2, 2007). "Revela Iztapalapa su Templo Mayor" [Iztapalapa reveals its Grand Temple].
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Laura Castellanos (May 11, 2006). "Defienden Cerro de la Estrella" [They defend Cerro de la Estrella].
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called the Sierra de Santa Catarina. The area serves as a recharge area for aquifers to the east of the city.
46:. Archaeological remains include temples related to the ceremony and older structures such as housing units,
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449:[Location of the New Fire Museum] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Borough of Iztapalapa. Archived from
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78:, bordered by major thoroughfares such as Calzada Ermita Iztapalapa and Calzada México-Tulyehualca.
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period, the Cerro de la Estrella was called Huizachtecatl, or Sacred Mountain, the site of the
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39:
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346:[Denounce invasion of illegal settlers putting valuable cultural riches at risk].
379:[Archeology] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Government of Mexico City. Archived from
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erased by the use to acid to give the impression that there is no heritage here to save.
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475:[Gather together experts to conserve the integrity of Cerro de la Estrella].
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310:[Cerro de la Estrella Park] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Borough of Iztapalapa
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344:"Invasión de paracaidistas pone en riesgo valiosos bienes culturales, denuncian"
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569:"Méndez Martínez, Enrique Cerro de la Estrella, INAH Official Web Page"
473:"Se unen expertos a la conservación integral del Cerro de la Estrella"
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416:[Cerro de la Estrella National Park] (in Spanish). Mexico:
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534:[Pending a declaration for the Cerro de la Estrella].
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538:(in Spanish). Mexico City. April 2, 2007. Archived from
640:(in Spanish). Mexico City. February 2, 2009. p. 6.
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Instituto Latinoamericano de la Comunicación Educativa
532:"Pendiente, la declaratoria del Cerro de la Estrella"
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The area of the park was inhabited from at least the
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Walking path in Cerro de la Estrella National Park.
268:visitors who also damage areas including caves.
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111:pine, and some white cedar, all planted in
38:culturally as the site of the pre Hispanic
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479:(in Spanish). Mexico City. April 28, 2007
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207:Cerro de la Estrella (archeological site)
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213:Cerro de la Estrella archeological site
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414:"Parque Nacional Cerro de la Estrella"
152:The park was established by President
622:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 6.
602:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 6.
511:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 1.
447:"Ubicación del Museo del Fuego Nuevo"
7:
350:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 7
50:, and a major temple related to the
734:Fábrica de Artes y Oficios Oriente
717:Cerro de la Estrella National Park
661:Cerro de la Estrella National Park
28:Cerro de la Estrella National Park
14:
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177:, founded around 900 CE by the
342:Carlos Paul (August 3, 2011).
1:
308:"Parque Cerro de la Estrella"
239:Encroachment + appropriation
66:, located in the borough of
215:relate to the Teotihuacan,
211:Archeological finds at the
181:. By the 15th century, the
144:a Teotihuacan era pyramid.
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70:bordering the boroughs of
892:19.3441889°N 99.0911861°W
185:had control of the area.
936:National parks of Mexico
931:Landforms of Mexico City
897:19.3441889; -99.0911861
16:National park in Mexico
749:Museo Cabeza de Juárez
167:mid Pre Classic period
127:
24:
946:Petroglyphs in Mexico
121:
22:
941:Parks in Mexico City
808:Constitución de 1917
803:Cerro de la Estrella
744:La Nueva Viga Market
663:at Wikimedia Commons
888: /
848:San Andrés Tomatlán
542:on January 29, 2013
42:and the modern-day
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769:Mexico City Metro
729:Central de Abasto
659:Media related to
194:New Fire ceremony
40:New Fire ceremony
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171:Spanish conquest
122:Hilltop view of
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880:19°20′39.08″N
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883:99°5′28.27″W
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754:Passion Play
739:Iztapasauria
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581:. Retrieved
577:the original
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540:the original
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108:Pinus patula
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44:Passion Play
36:
27:
26:
916:Aztec sites
895: /
853:Santa Marta
843:Peñón Viejo
259:Destruction
188:During the
124:Mexico City
64:Mexico City
58:Description
52:Teotihuacan
48:petroglyphs
926:Iztapalapa
910:Categories
858:Tepalcates
828:Iztapalapa
698:Iztapalapa
348:La Jornada
275:References
201:Archeology
179:Chichimeca
131:Recreation
115:projects.
103:Eucalyptus
92:Iztapalapa
76:Milpa Alta
68:Iztapalapa
32:Iztapalapa
813:Culhuacán
793:Atlalilco
712:Carnivals
705:Landmarks
477:Excelsior
175:Culhuacan
169:, to the
823:Guelatao
798:Calle 11
788:Apatlaco
778:Acatitla
771:stations
546:June 12,
483:June 12,
457:June 12,
428:June 12,
387:June 12,
354:June 12,
314:June 12,
638:NOTIMEX
620:Reforma
600:Reforma
583:12 June
536:Milenio
509:Reforma
183:Mexicas
148:History
72:Tláhuac
783:Aculco
217:Toltec
863:UAM-I
585:2012
573:INAH
548:2012
485:2012
459:2012
430:2012
389:2012
356:2012
316:2012
250:INAH
74:and
912::
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283:^
105:,
34:.
690:e
683:t
676:v
587:.
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391:.
358:.
318:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
