Guachimontones

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Los Guachimontones (alternatively Huachimontones) is a pre-Columbian archaeological site near the Mexican town of Teuchitlán in the state of Jalisco. It is the major site of the so-called Teuchitlan tradition,^[1] 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.^[2] 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 ballcourts.

The excavation of the site has been the focus of archaeologists from the Colegio de Michoacán under the direction of U.S. archaeologist Phil Weigand and his wife Celia Garcia de Weigand. A large project has been underway at the site since 1998.

UNESCO has added the whole region, including the nearby tequila distilleries, to its World Heritage List. Due to heavy looting, the site was also included on the 2008 World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites.

[edit] See also

• Western Mexico shaft tomb tradition

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Smith, Julian (2006) "Surprise Finds in Tequila Country" in Archaeology magazine November/December 2006.
• Weigand, Phil and Efraín Cárdenas, "Proyecto Arqueológico Teuchitlán", accessed May 2008.