TONINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE

HOW TO GET THERE

The State of Chiapas is located in Southeastern Mexico, and bordered by the
States of Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tabasco, as well as the Pacific Ocean and
Guatemala. In the Northeast region of Chiapas sits the market town of
Ocosingo which can easily be reached by Highway 199, an extraordinarily
beautiful ride through mountains and jungle. The archaeological site of
Tonina is just 10 kilometers from this town by a dirt road.

BACKGROUND

Tonina, which means "Big Stone Houses", reached its highest point between
the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 10th centuries. By 900 A.D. it
had become the biggest acropolis of neolithic Mexico.

DESCRIPTION

Built on a pyramidal structure that sits on a natural shelf of the green
mountain range surrounding the Northern part of the valley of Ocosingo, the
sacred area of Tonina is one of the archaeological sites where the effects
of power are spectacularly shown. Here converge different eras, temples,
palaces, and stairways that were built on top of each other during more
than 1000 years of construction. Of the seven platforms that shape the
great pyramid, four are noteworthy: the third one in which the Palace of
the Underworld is found; the fourth one where the Palace of Grecisms
("Grecas") can be seen; the sixth platform where the mural of the Four
Suns, a sort of codix made of stucco, depicts the myth of the four
cosmogonist eras; and the seventh one on which both the Temple of the
Prisoners and the one of the Smoky Mirror stand, the latter being not only
the most important of the complex, but the highest in MesoamÈrica. Among
the most outstanding sculptures found in Tonina is the one of its last
ruler, Tzots Choj, and the recent findings of the Conqueror of Palenque and
Lord of Bonampak, also called "Supernatural Jaguar", as well as some other
archaeological samples which add 300 more years to the Mayan culture.

ACTIVITIES

Due to the Tonina setting, archaeological concern can be combined with both
ecological and photographic interests within a splendid natural scenery.
Nearby, there are other beautiful sights like Agua Azul and Misol-ha that
can be visited.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Cool clothes and comfortable walking shoes are recommended when visiting
this place. Also, a special permit by the Institute of Anthropology and
History in Tuxtla GutiÈrrez is required when commercial films are to be
made. The INAH is located on Calzada de los Hombres Ilustres.