This archaeological site is locally known as Cerro de la Campana (Cerro de la Campana) due to the popular belief that a golden bell is buried in one of its buildings, or mounds. Geographic maps assign the town the name Cerro de la Cantera, since pinkish quarry stone is currently extracted from the deposits there. This quarry is of high quality as well as being highly required to provide fine finishes in modern constructions.
Local historians and some scholars have sought to link this site with the mythical Huijazo or Atalaya en Guerra from where the heroic Zapotecs defended their nation against the Mixtec invaders. Even if this event occurred, it has not yet been documented by the archaeological record. To date, it is not possible to determine the year in which this ceremonial center was abandoned, but it is possible that with the arrival of the Mixtecs to the Central Valleys and later with the presence of the Spanish, the site became uninhabited as a result of the end of religious practices and the relocation of the indigenous populations by the peninsulars.
As such, the pre-Hispanic settlement extends beyond the current political boundaries and encompasses the municipalities of San Pablo Huitzo and Santiago Suchilquitongo. The Archaeological Zone itself is composed of three main architectural complexes around which the current population gradually spread. The oldest is called Barrio del Rosario, another is also in the town of Huitzo and is known as La Cueva de la Vieja, and finally, Cerro de la Campana in the municipality of Suchilquitongo.
The monumental architectural core of Cerro de la Campana is located at the top of a hill whose height of 150 meters above the Valley of Oaxaca, gives it an exceptional position. On clear days, it offers views of up to 40 kilometers away. The quality of light and the clarity of the air are a major attraction. The site sits on a small peak that, when artificially leveled, allows for the construction of eight buildings, each just over 4 meters high and with foundation bases measuring up to 25 meters per side. In its heyday, the hill's slopes were contained by rough masonry covered with plastered lime stucco, giving the complex a fortress-like appearance.
One of the significant discoveries made in 1985 was the discovery of the so-called Tomb 5, located in Building 1. Along with Tomb 105 of Monte Albán, both contemporary, they could be considered the most beautiful funerary element in the Archaeology of the Oaxacan region. This tomb is located below the building in question, about six and a half meters deep, the same depth as the floor of the Sunken Patio in the center of the complex.
The tomb was built around 750 AD, that is, its age is 1240 years;The Tomb was built around the year 750 after Christ, that is, its age is 1240 years; Some experts claim that it was used at least twice after the great lord who originally ordered it to be built for his own burial ceremony, known as Lord 12 Monkey who probably ruled these lands. The entrance is reached by descending nine steps leading to the portico, which at the time of its discovery was sealed with a large stone block. Two stones carved in bas-relief with the representation of richly attired priests form the jambs of the entrance, the latter topped with a large monolithic lintel that supports the head of a feline that, when opening its jaws, lets out the head of a beautiful bird.
This realistic representation is framed with abstract elements of the god Cocijo, such as the plume that crowns the feline like a headdress, and the symbols of crenellated mountains, water, and the power of the winds found on the sides of the head. It is noteworthy that the entire composition is embedded within a double scapular panel, which, with few exceptions, had only been used as a decorative element on the facades of monumental buildings during the Classic period in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca.
The archaeological site of Cerro de la Campana has permanent custody service, and in the center of the town of Santiago Suchilquitongo, visitors can visit the community museum, which houses a replica of Tomb 5, as well as some of the artifacts found inside. A tour of the local cemetery is a must-see, especially if you visit in November.
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