Guachimontones
| Teuchitlan tradition Culture – Archaeological Site | ||
Circular stepped-pyramid at the Guachimontones location known as 'Circle 2'
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| Name: | Guachimontones archaeological site | |
| Type | Mesoamerican archaeology | |
| Location |
Teuchitlán, Jalisco Mexico
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| Region | Western Mesoamerica | |
| Coordinates | 20°41′41.68″N 103°50′9.93″W / 20.6949111°N 103.8360917°WCoordinates: 20°41′41.68″N 103°50′9.93″W / 20.6949111°N 103.8360917°W | |
| Culture | Shaft tomb tradition – Teuchitlan tradition | |
| Language | Nahuatl - Totorames - Cora language - Chibcha language | |
| Chronology | 300 BCE - 900 CE | |
| Period | Mesoamerican, Late Classical, Postclassical | |
| Apogee | 200 – 400 CE | |
| INAH Web Page | Guachimontones archaeological site official web page | |
Los Guachimontones (alternatively Huachimontones) is a prehispanic archaeological site near the Mexican town of Teuchitlán in the state of Jalisco about an hour west of Guadalajara. It is the major site of the so-called Teuchitlan tradition, 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-foot (18 m) 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 hole was located at the very highest level, most likely for Volador ceremonies. The pyramids may also have supported small temples.
The word Teuchitlán is derived from Teotzitlán or Teutzitlán interpreted as "place dedicated to the divine", "place of the God Tenoch " or "place dedicated to the revered God".
Possibly the city foundation goes back to the Aztecs, which erected it on a hill called Huachimontón, north of its current location. It was founded by members of Nahuatlacas groups that developed central Mexico during the postclassical period, however it is known that buildings at Teuchitlán were built prior to such development. The creative culture that constructed "'Guachimontones"' is called Teuchitlan tradition, its apogee was between 200 and 400 CE, disappearing in about 900 CE, possibly before the arrival of the Anahuaca colonists.
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.
There are about 950 archaeological sites under investigation in the State of Jalisco. According to the National Institute of anthropology and history of Jalisco, there may be more than 2,000 archaeological sites in the State. Include not only large cities or ceremonial centers, as archaeological sites are considered: "any place with vestiges of ancient human activity."
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