900 - 1100). Archaeological investigations have placed various different hierarchy prehispanic settlements, among these Huamango was chosen because it represents the best example of the Otomi culture monumental architecture, in the region. Following Piña Chan research, tentatively, two occupation periods have been established: one from 900 to 1100 CE, with similarities to the archaeological area of Tula (incense smokers, braziers and ceramic pots, as burial offerings); and another around 1200-1300 CE, which presents evidence that correlate with sites such as Teotenango and Calixtlahuaca. Burials excavated at the site yielded ceramic offering vessels in a distinctive polychrome style. The lack of Coyotlatelco ceramics is a good sign that the site does not date to the epiclassical period (700-900 CE), and the presence of some types similar to Tollan-phase Tula supports the early postclassical dating. Otomi Culture The Otomi people ( is a native ethnic group inhabiting the central altiplano of Mexico. The two most populous groups are the Highland or Sierra Otomí living in the mountains of La Huasteca and the Mezquital Otomí, living in the Mezquital Valley in the eastern part of the state of Hidalgo, and in the state of Querétaro. Sierra Otomí usually self identify as Ñuhu or Ñuhmu depending on the dialect they speak, whereas Mezquital Otomi self identify as Hñähñu (pronounced ). Smaller Otomi populations exist in the states of Puebla, Mexico, Tlaxcala, Michoacán and Guanajuato. The Otomi language belonging to the Oto-Pamean branch of the Oto-Manguean language family is spoken in many different varieties some of which are not mutually intelligible. One of the early complex cultures of Mesoamerica, the Otomi were likely the original inhabitants of the central Mexican highlands before the arrival of Nahuatl speakers around ca. 1000 AD, but were gradually replaced and marginalized by Nahua peoples. In the colonial period Otomi speakers helped the Spanish conquistadors as mercenaries and allies, which allowed them to extend into territories that had previously been inhabited by semi-nomadic Chichimecs, for example Querétaro and Guanajuato. Hence the names used by the otomíes to refer to themselves are numerous: ñätho (Toluca Valley), hñähñu (Mezquital Valley), ñäñho (Santiago de Mezquititlán, south of Querétaro) and ñ'yühü (Northern Puebla Sierra), Pahuatlán) are some of the names used by the Otomi to call themselves in their own languages, although it is common when talking in Spanish they use the Nahuatl ethnonym "Otomi". Otomí Demonym origin As with most ethnonyms used to