Mezquital Valley
It is considered to be part of the northern extension of Mesoamerica, with one major archeological site, Tula, which was the main city of the Toltecs, an important influence for the later Aztecs.
In the 20th century, irrigation works were created to take advantage of the water in the Tula River, along with wastewater drained from the Valley of Mexico for agriculture.
The Mezquital Valley is located in the central Mexican Highlands about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Mexico City.
These include air and soil pollution from an important refinery and electric power plant near the city of Tula.
[1][5] The wastewater is a mix of residential and industrial water, which includes contaminants such as bacteria (such as cholera) from fecal matter and toxic chemicals.
[4][5] While most inhabitants are mestizo, the Otomi people have been the dominant indigenous ethnicity since the Classic period of the Mesoamerican era.
[6] The Otomi language of the valley is spoken by an estimated 115,000 people, especially in the municipalities of San Salvador, Chilcuautla, Ixmiquilpan, Alfajayucan, Tasquillo, Nicolás Flores, Cardonal, and Huichapan.
[7] Traditionally, these Otomi are known for their handcrafts, especially the creation of textiles from ixtle fiber and the making of pulque, both from the maguey plant.
Over this many wear quechquemitls, of blue, purple, or black wool, as well as rebozos in similar colors and designs.
[10] A significant percentage of the population lives under what is called usos y costumbres (uses and customs), a legal way to allow indigenous communities to keep traditional authority structures.
[3][5] A small but important quantity of lettuce, cabbage, cilantro, radishes, carrots, spinach, and parsley is grown.
[3] About 61% of the population works in agriculture,[5] which has been made possible by the diversion of wastewater from the neighboring Valley of Mexico through the Tula River.
The areas most dependent on wastewater are: Actopan, Ajacuba, Alfajayucan, Atitalaquía, Atotonilco de Tula, Francisco I. Madero, Chilcuautla, Mixquihuala, San Salvador, Tasquillo, Tetepango, Tezontepec, Tlahuelilpan, and Tlaxcoapan.
It is considered to be the northern edge of Mesoamerica, with evidence of agriculture on terraces and some irrigation, at least in Tula, as well as hunter-gatherer communities.
The settlement of the northwest of the valley began in the Classic period by Xajay groups with possible Chupicuaro-Mixtlan connections.
[2] The most significant pre-Hispanic city was Tula, which came to regional prominence after the fall of Teotihuacan and before the rise of Tenochtitlan in the Valley of Mexico.
[2] The Toltec empire reached as far south as the Valley of Mexico and its influence has been found in artifacts as far away as the current U.S. Southwest.
[13][14] Stories about Tula were an important part of Aztec lore, with the god Quetzalcoatl possibly a deification of the last Toltec ruler.
[2] Only after the Spanish conquest did the Otomi of the valley become more settled, although to this day there are some fringe groups which still maintain much of the hunter-gatherer traditions.
[15] The ecology of the valley began to change dramatically in the colonial period, mostly due to logging and the introduction of grazing animals, especially sheep, causing erosion and other damage.
In 1854 a local uprising, especially in the communities of Orizabita and Remedios, arose in response to the excessive taxes levied by Ixmiquilpan authorities.
[15] Today the valley is an important agricultural region for the state of Hidalgo, growing corn, beans, wheat, onions, tomatoes, cactus fruit, and peaches.
From the 1980s, many Otomis migrated away from the valley to the United States, with large communities from this area settling in Clearwater, Florida and Las Vegas.
[23] One major dispute is over 102 hectares of land on the border between Ixmiquilpan and El Cardonal, which has led to paramilitary groups taking over areas.
It is noted for its large series of murals done in the 16th century by native artists depicting Eagle and Jaguar warriors in battle, along with other pre-Hispanic imagery.
[27] Imagery that is repeated here is that of holy war with Eagle and Jaguar warriors, as well as images associated with the sun and moon gods.
[14] The modern city is a regional economic center and has been listed as one of the fastest growing in Mexico by the National Commission of Population.
[13][29] The main facade has three arches, pilasters with reliefs, a curved pediment, and a chapel annex that takes from the 17th century.
[33] The ceremonial center of the city is located on a limestone outcropping, with steep banks on three sides, making it defensible.
[34] War and sacrifice are prominent themes at the site, with images representing warriors such as jaguars and coyotes, as well as eagles eating human hearts.
