Ixcateopan

Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc Ichcateopan
Town
Monument to Cuauhtémoc in a plaza in the town
Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc Location in Mexico
Coordinates: 18°30′00″N 99°47′36″W / 18.50000°N 99.79333°W / 18.50000; -99.79333Coordinates: 18°30′00″N 99°47′36″W / 18.50000°N 99.79333°W / 18.50000; -99.79333
Country	Mexico
State	Guerrero
Founded	350
Municipal Status	1850
Government
• Municipal President	Dario Perez Morales (2007–2010)
Area
• Total	310.7 km2 (120.0 sq mi)
Elevation (of seat)	2,600 m (8,500 ft)
Population (2005) Municipality
• Total	6,104
• Seat	2,379
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
Postal code (of seat)	40430

Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc is a town in Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc Municipality located in isolated, rugged mountains in the northern part of Guerrero state, Mexico. According to tradition, it is the final resting place of Aztec Emperor Cuauhtémoc, whose alleged remains were found under the parish church here in the mid-20th century. This church has been converted into a museum with displays a number of pre-Hispanic artifacts, offerings left in honor of the emperor and the alleged remains of Cuauhtémoc himself. This has been refuted by later research and by a Judging Commission of the Mexican government in 1976.

Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc is located 36 km west of famous silver town of Taxco de Alarcón, traveling on the state highway. Unlike its neighbor, the vegetation surrounding Ixcateopan is forested with pine, red and white cedar, and walnut trees. Along the highway, there is a waterfall by the name of Cascada de Cacalotenango, which has a small chapel at the top. The distance between Ixcateopan and Chilpancingo, the capital of the state of Guerrero, is 180 km.

The explored archeological remains are located at the Ixcateopan (archaeological site).

The name Ixcateopan (sometimes spelled Ichcateopan) from the Nahuatl words “ichcacates” (or “ixcatle”) and “moteopan,” “teopan,” or “teopancalli.” Most interpret the first word as meaning cotton and the second temple, leading to a translation of temple of cotton. However, some sources claim the real name of the area is Zompancuahuithli, and the name was changed to Ixcateopan after the arrival of Cuauhtemoc's body and means (here is the temple/church). The glyph in the Mendoncino Codex for Ixcateopan reflects both interpretations, a cotton flower, a depiction of Cuauhtémoc and a pyramid. “De Cuauhtémoc” was added to Ixcateopan’s name by the Congress of the State of Guerrero in 1950.

Some of the inhabitants of this area before the Conquest were the Cohuixas and the Chontals. The indigenous community located at what is now the southern edge of the town dates back to at least 350 C. E. This community was an important regional ceremonial center as well as the headquarters for the guardian soldiers. It was also closely associated with the production of cotton and cotton products, a valuable commodity at the time. Ixcateopan was one of the last cities to be subjugated by the Aztec Empire. The location served as a point to gather and then distribute tribute from surrounding areas. Mexica from other parts of the Aztec Empire, including soldiers, came here due to the wars between them and the Purépecha Empire. Because of this, Ixcateopan, originally a purely Chontal city, became multicultural.