Some time around the year 400 people called Olmeca-Xicallanca migrated from the Gulf coast of the Yucatån peninsula into the Mexican central highlands, settled at Cholula and, after the fall of that neighboring city (ca. 600), flourished at Cacaxtla until 900 but, then, by 1000 were gone themselves.

Though the protective roof gives the illusion of a single structure, the platform holds the ruins of many architectural features, including the remains of decorated pillars that suggest parts of the platform may have been roofed in ancient times. The photo at left shows a small room atop a low platform and the picture at right shows one of many slope panels that look like bleachers (but probably aren't).

Building B rises above people looking at the battle mural. In the lower right is a room with what are supposed to have been rabbit hutches, though they look very like the turkey and macaw pens at Paquimé (further north and several hundred years later). Feathers were important ritual items; did rabbits have had some sort of ritual function—or were they solely for food?

Another huge ceremonial center, Xochitecatl (left) lies within walking distance (about 2 km) from Cacaxtla (right).

The main temple platform, the Pyramid of the Flowers, is joined by two other structures, Platform of the Volcanos and Building of the Serpent, in the first of two plazas that comprise the ceremonial center. These, along with the Spiral Pyramid, in the second plaza, date from as far back as 750 BCE (thus contemporaneous with Chalcatzingo at least in the early stages) and were in use until about 100 BCE. Perhaps an eruption of Popocatépetl had something to do with Xochitecatl's abandonment. The site was reoccupied around 300 CE in a cultural and political alignment with Cacaxtla that lasted until about 900 CE.