Ixcateopan (archaeological site)

Ixcateopan is an archaeological site located in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. It is best known as the purported burial place of the last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtémoc.

While the authenticity of the remains discovered at the site in 1949 remains highly controversial, the town of Ixcateopan has embraced its association with Cuauhtémoc. The site features a pre-Columbian platform upon which a colonial-era church was constructed. Inside the church, a grave purportedly holds the bones of Cuauhtémoc.

The alleged discovery of Cuauhtémoc's remains was orchestrated by Eulalia Guzmán, a prominent Mexican archaeologist. Guzmán's findings were met with skepticism from many scholars, and several investigations have questioned the validity of the evidence and the methods used during the excavation. Carbon dating performed on the bones has yielded results inconsistent with the generally accepted timeline of Cuauhtémoc's life and death.

Despite the controversy, Ixcateopan is considered an important historical and cultural site. It attracts visitors who come to pay homage to Cuauhtémoc and learn about the history of the Aztec empire and the Spanish conquest. The museum located near the church displays artifacts and information related to the site and the ongoing debate surrounding the authenticity of the remains. The controversy surrounding the site has also spurred further archaeological research in the region.