Tututepec
[2] There are 3 main sources for the history of Tututepec, the first are Mixtec codices notably Codex Bodley, Nuttall, and Colombino-Becker that record the founding of the city by Eight Deer as well as their first conquests in the late 11th century.
Lastly Arthur Joyce led archaeological investigations of the city published in 2004 documenting the size, architecture, growth, and surface artifacts of the site.
[3] The first settlements in Tututepec dates back to 400 BCE, afterwards the population of the area would fluctuate until 800 CE where the site would be almost devoid of activity.
After founding Tututepec, Eight Deer begins wars of consolidation as he conquers dozens of towns establishing Tututepec power in a fragmented region as the collapse of the Rio Viejo state prior to his arrival left the region fragmented and easier to conquer, the result of the conquests allowed the Mixtecs to gain access to new resources from tribute such as cacao and feathers.
In 1097 a Toltec delegation led by their leader Four Jaguar visited Tututepec and allied with Eight Deer, aiding him in conquering Tilantongo the next year.
After Eight Deer conquered Tilantongo he never returned to Tututepec leaving the history of the city unknown until the eve of Spanish conquest.
[6] After the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire Hernan Cortes sent his lieutenant Pedro de Alvarado to the coast where they were aided by Zapotecs from Tehuantepec in January 1522, arriving in Tututepec in February being taken to the core of the city before conquering it by March 4th after capturing their ruler Coaxintecuhtli and extorting 30,000 peso's worth of gold eventually leaving him to die in captivity.
Full coverage surveys of the lower Rio Verde Valley since 1994 led by Joyce have resulted in extensive archaeological data that corroborates with the Mixtec codices on the founding of the city.
After conquest the platform was converted from the palace of the ruler to a church incorporating pre-Columbian art styles like disc friezes set on the walls.
[1] Tututepec was a tributary empire, conquering many places and requiring subject towns to regularly deliver tribute to the capital.
[7] Spindle whorls found in excavated residences at Tututepec and early colonial sources indicate that the city was a cotton exporter.
