Mesoamerican Photo Archives: Cholula

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The Great Pyramid appears like a natural hill in the center of the now university town of Cholula, Puebla. The largest pyramid in America by volume, this platform contains many layers of construction that span nearly ten centuries. Archaeologists have tunneled approximately five miles of corridors within the pyramid. One such archaeological tunnel is accessible to tourists, and visible in the photo at the top of this page. At the base of the thumbnail photo to the left, one can see Structure A and the "Courtyard of the Altars".

In the "Courtyard of Altars" there are a number of interesting monuments, including a large carved head, a central stela, and Altar 2 which was carved with two serpent heads. Click on this photo to see these three views within the courtyard.

The "Stone Structure" was built almost entirely by archaeologists, based on remains that they found when uncovering this section of the Great Pyramid. While criticized by some, this reconstruction is likely what the shape of the facade once looked like. The original structure had been buried by a later construction, a portion of which is still visible on the sides of the Stone Structure. This later construction had large tenoned blocks which may have once held facade decorations in place.

Excavations around the Great Pyramid have found associated structures, both domestic and religious in function. Here is a photograph of one facade unearthed to the South of the Great Pyramid (visible immediately after exiting the tour of the archaeological tunnels).

Here is a small profile section of the Great Pyramid, made when a road was cut to allow paved access to the church on top. You can see the bricks of what are probably adobe and the lines of what may be prepared floors in the fill. The outlines of the construction bricks are also visible in the walls of the archaeological tunnel shown at the top of this page.

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	The Great Pyramid appears like a natural hill in the center of the now university town of Cholula, Puebla. The largest pyramid in America by volume, this platform contains many layers of construction that span nearly ten centuries. Archaeologists have tunneled approximately five miles of corridors within the pyramid. One such archaeological tunnel is accessible to tourists, and visible in the photo at the top of this page. At the base of the thumbnail photo to the left, one can see Structure A and the "Courtyard of the Altars".
	In the "Courtyard of Altars" there are a number of interesting monuments, including a large carved head, a central stela, and Altar 2 which was carved with two serpent heads. Click on this photo to see these three views within the courtyard.
	The "Stone Structure" was built almost entirely by archaeologists, based on remains that they found when uncovering this section of the Great Pyramid. While criticized by some, this reconstruction is likely what the shape of the facade once looked like. The original structure had been buried by a later construction, a portion of which is still visible on the sides of the Stone Structure. This later construction had large tenoned blocks which may have once held facade decorations in place.
	Excavations around the Great Pyramid have found associated structures, both domestic and religious in function. Here is a photograph of one facade unearthed to the South of the Great Pyramid (visible immediately after exiting the tour of the archaeological tunnels).
	Here is a small profile section of the Great Pyramid, made when a road was cut to allow paved access to the church on top. You can see the bricks of what are probably adobe and the lines of what may be prepared floors in the fill. The outlines of the construction bricks are also visible in the walls of the archaeological tunnel shown at the top of this page.