El Tajin is an archaeological site in
Veracruz State ,Mexico north of the
port city of Veracruz and near Poza
Rica and Papantla.

Located at  20*28’N, 97*28’W, the
site is  aligned North/south

El Tajin now ls now in a Totonac area
but researchers believe that the
original builders  of El Tajin were
Huasatec people who started
construction in 100 AD.
El Tajin Archaeological Ruin Site, Veracruz, Mexico
Pyramid of the
Niches:
A Calendar
Building
Constructed in 600
AD
El Tajin
The most notable
building in El Tajin is
the Pyramid of the
Niches, thought by
some researchers to
represent a stone
calendar with 365
niches built into a
pyramidal shaped
building in 600 AD.
A Similar
constructions is found
in Mayan Chichen
Itza.  Both cities had a
Toltec influence.
The Castillo at
Chichen Itza is also
thought to represent
the calendar  
Pyramid of the Niches:
A stone Calendar  built in 600 AD
Ball court decorations
depict ritual blood
letting and sacrifice.
El Tajin, Pyramid of the Niches:
A stone Calendar

Notable buildings at El Tajin include the
Pyramid of the Niches, reportedly constructed
as a calendar with 365 niches built into a
pyramidal shaped building in 600 AD  
The culture flourished from 600 AD to 1100 AD  
ending in 1150 AD

At the site, 17 ball courts have so far been
discovered.  These are  I shaped courts, some
with elaborately decorated walls. the carvings
include depictions of ritual blood letting and the  
piercing of the penis.  The site spreads over
500 htrs  and at one time had 30,000
inhabitants.  There is a Museum on the site.