El Tajin Geography

The layout of the site is determined by the land form. El Tajin is in a valley enclosed on 3.5 sides. The north side of the site
has been terraced into 2 levels above the main level. (Main level is assumed to be the level of the Pyramid of the Niches.) The terracing of the levels probably supplied the fill for the structures.

The lowest is assumed to be the earliest. The middle level is called Tajin Chico (little Tajin) and the highest level is identified by "columns" in the name because of the dominant structure--building of the columns.

There are also some stone structures on the west, south and east sides of the valley.

Two streams define the boundary of the main (3 level) site. The streams were not very visible when I was there, but they must have created the valley, and they may be the reason for several long thin mounds around the edge of the site. In the topographic map these thin mounds look like they may be protecting the site from the meandering of the streams.

Because of the severe limitations of space on the site, it was probably not reasonable to have a more formal layout. Structures seem to be placed wherever they would fit.
I think this gives the site a more relaxed feel as opposed to the formal layout of Teotihuacan.

This is a view from my VR showing some of the structures.


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