As recorded in the historic accounts, the Postclassic inhabitants of Cholula knew the natural-looking mound located east of their city center was a man-made mountain, the Tlachiualtépec, and already very ancient. Archaeologists have discovered that the Tlachiualtépec is composed of several sequences of layered platforms and temples whose construction and use spanned about 1500 years.
- Preclassic (AD 1 to 200 BC
The first temple was constructed at around the 1st century AD, when Cholula was still a small center. The temple was located near a shallow lagoon and was probably dedicated to a rain deity.
- Classic (AD 200-650)
The Classic period in Central Mexico was dominated by the power of Teotihuacan. At the same time, Cholula grew into becoming the main center of the valley of Puebla-Tlaxcala. It was during this period when Phase 2 "Los Chapulines" of the pyramid was constructed. By 500-600 AD Cholula's power started to wane, and following the decline of Teotihuacan, its population shrank from 30,000 to 5-10,000 people.
- Epiclassic (AD 650-900)
During the Epiclassic Cholula continued to decline, possibly due to the rise of Cacaxtla, under the rule of the Olmeca-Xicallanca; and to the eruption of the volcano Popocatepetl in the 8th century. However, at the end of the Epiclassic (9th-10th century AD), Cholula saw a revival. The Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca tells that at the end of the 9thcentury the Olmeca-Xicallanca moved their capital to Cholula and from this moment on, the city became an important pilgrimage and trade center in Central Mexico. These newcomers remodeled and enlarged the pyramid and constructed a new temple, which was later dedicated to Yacatecuhtli, god of commerce for the Tolteca-Chichimeca.
- Postclassic and Colonial times (AD 900-1521)
In the 12th century, Cholula was occupied and taken over by the Tolteca-Chichimeca, a Nahua group that had migrated from the north to Central Mexico. Apparently, the arrival of this population is linked to the division of Cholula into two towns, San Pedro and San Andrés Cholula, referring to the two ethnic groups that occupied the city in Postclassic and Colonial times. During the Late Postclassic, the pyramid complex lost its importance as a religious place as focus shifted to the temple of Quetzalcóatl located in the main plaza of San Pedro Cholula. The cult of Quetzalcoatl gave Cholula prestige and authority and between the 12th and 16th century the city became the largest pilgrimage and trade center in central Mesoamerica.
When the Europeans arrived, the pyramid was no longer the primary location for ritual performance, but it was still revered and used for offerings and burials. As attested in many Conquest period accounts, the Spanish were amazed by the organization of the city, which at that time was second only to Tenochtitlan. At the end of the 16th century the Spanish constructed the church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Our Lady of the Remedies), on top of the ancient pyramid, which has since then become an important pilgrimage destination for Catholics.
