Zempoala

Cempoala or Zempoala is an important Mesoamerican archaeological site in the municipality of Úrsulo Galván in the Mexican state of Veracruz [1]. It lies on the flat coastal plain, located one kilometer from the shore of the Actopan River and six kilometres from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico [1]. At its peak, Cempoala had a population of between 25,000 and 30,000 [1]. The economy of Cempoala was largely based on marine resources and lowland agriculture [1]. Cempoala and other coastal Veracruz locations were defeated by the Aztec armies of Moctezuma I (mid-15th century) [1]. The Cempoala complex site is an assembly of impressive public spaces and fortress-like buildings surrounded by vegetation [1]. The structures were built with stones from the nearby river, joined with mortar, and covered with lime made from burning shells and snails [1].