Cultural
Vallée de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán : habitat originel de Méso-Amérique
Mexique
Located in south-central Mexico, the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley represents one of the most significant archaeological and ecological regions of Mesoamerica. The site documents the origins of agricultural development in the Americas, containing evidence of the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities spanning thousands of years. The valley's archaeological layers reveal the domestication of maize and other crops that would become fundamental to Mesoamerican civilizations. Beyond its archaeological importance, the region encompasses diverse ecosystems including cloud forests, tropical deciduous forests, and xerophytic vegetation, supporting exceptional biodiversity. The landscape is characterized by deep canyons, varied topography, and a network of caves and rock shelters that have preserved crucial evidence of human occupation and cultural development. This combination of archaeological richness and ecological diversity makes the valley an essential site for understanding the prehistory and natural heritage of Mesoamerica.
