Paso Temprano: The 1,200-Year-Old City That Was Hidden on Mexico’s Coast

Archaeologists have discovered a previously unknown ancient city that is located in Mexico’s Costa Chica region of the state of Guerrero. The ancient city is named Paso Temprano, and dates back about 1,200 years, during the Epiclassic period (600-900 CE). The ancient city covers more than 1.2 kilometers, including palaces, a ceremonial ball court, and fortification walls, and gives us a detailed insight into life in an area that has been overlooked by archaeological research for a long time.

The excavations were carried out by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and have revealed a well-structured ancient city with a well-planned space (IMXPA, 2025). The ancient city was not a small settlement but a major hub along the Pacific coastline. It indicates a well-structured ancient community with defined areas.

The construction style is one of its most defining features because the defensive walls use a technique known as Mixtec facing, where vertical stone blocks are combined with thin slabs to create uniformity in both strength and visual appeal (Heritage Daily, 2025). There are nearby sites, such as Tehuacalco, where similar methods have been identified, which could indicate shared building traditions across the region.


We get further context from material remains found at the site. Ceramic fragments were found, which help in dating the occupation to the Epiclassic period and indicate both everyday and ritual use (IMXPA, 2025). Variations in ceramic styles could point to connections with nearby communities, which is evidence of interaction and exchange along the Guerrero coast (The Guerrero Post, 2025).

Water management seemed to have been prioritised by the city’s inhabitants. Archaeologists found channels and reservoirs that were designed to control and store water in the coastal environment (IMXPA, 2025). These systems would have been for agriculture and daily use, which reflects a practical planning that was suited to local conditions. Nearby, another site called Piedra Letra adds a symbolic angle to the discovery. Petroglyphs that were carved into stone include images such as jaguars and feathered headdresses (The Guerrero Post, 2025). These motifs could be for broader Mesoamerican traditions and suggest that there were shared cultural ideas within the region.

There was a form of leadership and social stratification because of the presence of defensive walls and large structures. However, the presence of the ball court also underscores the significance of ceremonial activity in these societies, which was sometimes seen to play a role in the maintenance of social identity in pre-Hispanic societies. Paso Temprano adds to the existing knowledge about pre-Hispanic urban development in Guerrero. It tells us that the regions along the coast were also complex societies with advanced construction techniques. It is believed that further research on the site will help to shed more light on how these societies interacted with one another.