- Guachimontones
Los Guachimontones (alternatively Huachimontones) is a
pre-Columbian archaeological site near the Mexican town ofTeuchitlán in the state ofJalisco . It is the major site of the so-calledTeuchitlan tradition , [Weigand.] a complex society that existed from as early as 300 BCE until perhaps 900 CE.The dominant features at los Guachimontones are circular stepped pyramids in the middle of circular building complexes. The 60 feet tall pyramid at Circle 2 has 13 high steps leading to an upper level, which was then topped with another 4 high steps. A post hold was located at the very highest level, most likely for "
volador " ceremonies. [Weigand.] The pyramids may also have supported small temples.Sunken circular plazas surround each pyramid and a series of smaller mounds surround the plazas. On top of the mounds are platforms that once supported wooden buildings made of wood and clay.
The site has a total of 10 circular complexes, four rectangular plazas, two
ballcourt s.The excavation of the site has been the focus of archaeologists from the
Colegio de Michoacán under the direction of U.S. archaeologistPhil Weigand and his wifeCelia Garcia de Weigand . A large project has been underway at the site since 1998.UNESCO has added the whole region, including the nearbytequila distilleries, to itsWorld Heritage List . Due to heavy looting, the site was also included on the 2008World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites.ee also
*
Western Mexico shaft tomb tradition Notes
References
*Smith, Julian (2006) "Surprise Finds in Tequila Country" in "Archaeology" magazine November/December 2006.
*Weigand, Phil and Efraín Cárdenas, " [http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~cbeekman/research/guachimonton.html Proyecto Arqueológico Teuchitlán"] , accessed May 2008.
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