Archaeological imagery and traditional customs offer two distinct ways to explore the history of Antiguo Tamuín. To get your bearings, it is helpful to distinguish Antiguo Tamuín from the archaeological zone of Tamohi: the two names refer to geographically separate sites that are also historically connected.

Archaeological Imagery and Settlement History

The Huastec chest ornament comes from the archaeological site of Antiguo Tamuín in the Huasteca Potosina. It depicts a single figure looking to the right, possibly representing the hunting god Mixcóatl. The arrows in the figure’s right hand symbolize hunting equipment. The figure kneels with one knee on the jaws of an earth monster. This represents the earth’s surface; the same monster beneath the figure symbolizes the underworld.

Tamohi, also known as El Consuelo, lies six kilometers from Antiguo Tamuín on the right bank of the Río Tampaón. The archaeological zone covers 211 hectares and includes four civic-religious plazas, as well as residential, settlement, and cultivation areas. While the chest ornament presents a single image, Tamohi describes a larger geographical setting with plazas and areas used for different purposes.

The names are also linked by history: El Consuelo was still inhabited in the early years of the Conquest. Later, Indigenous people who had previously lived scattered throughout the Huasteca were settled at the place now known as Antiguo Tamuín. The archaeological zone and the present-day town remain distinct geographical reference points.

Traditional Judas Customs

The traditional Judas custom included the reading of the “Testament of Judas” in front of the village chapel in Antiguo Tamuín. This was followed by a battle between angels and demons over a Judas figure made of cloth and sawdust, which was then burned. In one traditional version of the custom, participants circled the cemetery once to three times and then walked through the streets wearing masks. There, the Judas figures played pranks on passersby and asked for a sip of something to drink, a cigarette, or something else to calm their exuberant energy.

After the battle, climbing the “palo encebado” is also part of the tradition: the name refers to a greased climbing pole. Antiguo Tamuín is one of the few places where this practice is still carried out. Mask-making also has a historical connection to the town: Antiguo Tamuín was traditionally among the leading places for making masks from Pemuche wood.

Hotel and Trip Planning

There are two distinct focuses to consider when planning your trip: the settlement history and traditional customs of Antiguo Tamuín, or the archaeological zone of Tamohi on the Río Tampaón. If you’re looking for hotels in Antiguo Tamuín, include Tamohi as a separate geographical point of reference in your plans; the zone is six kilometers away. If you want to plan your stay around the Judas custom, check the dates of current events in advance.

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