Altavista (Zacatecas)

Altavista, or Chalchihuites, is an important archaeological area near the municipality of Chalchihuites, in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. It is located 229 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Zacatecas. It is located west of Cerro Sombrerete in the northwest corner of the state of Durango. This site was a cultural oasis, inhabited continuously between the years 100 to 1400 AD.

The area is located in the Chalchihuites mountain range. The word Chalchihuites comes from the Nahuatl chalchíhuitl, which means precious stone. Groups of the Chalchihuites-Chichimecas cultures settled here.

The name Altavista is due to a ranch that existed in the surrounding area, when the archaeologist Manuel Gamio visited the area. There are opinions that this ceremonial center was developed by the Súchil branch of the Chalchihuites culture. It is related to the Chalchihuites culture, which flourished in the classic Mesoamerican period, it had a social and political structure; They had hieroglyphic writing. And they built formal and urbanized cities, ceremonial centers, they used numbering, astronomy, and other knowledge. This group had in Chalchihuites, elements that favored its social, economic and military life.

History of the place

Manuel Gamio carried out the first investigations of this site in 1908. He explored the area of the Hall of the Columns and its stairs; He also carried out surveys in the region.

The next investigations of the place took place in 1971, by J. Charles Kelley began an extensive excavation of it; These works continued until 1976. Most of the known history of the Chalchihuites culture is due to Kelley.

Research showed that the ceremonial center was designed and built between 450-470 AD. C. The INAH has established that this was not built at random, precise orientations were made from the Cerro del Chapín (seven kilometers S-W) where two petroglyphs (circles-crosses) similar to others found in Teotihuacán were found.

The Zone

Phil Weigand identified more than 750 pre-Hispanic mines in the region. Turquoise was found in Alta Vista, coming from remote places; of the "American Southwest", more than a thousand kilometers to the north.

The ceremonial center of Altavista has sophisticated characteristics, part of the Mesoamerican ritual ideology.

It is thought that Altavista was a trading point for turquoise, coming from the American oasis mines of New Mexico. The population declined around 800 AD. c.

The rise of Altavista, is estimated in the classical newspaper, around the years 400 to 650 AD. C. It represents the main ceremonial center of the Chalchihuites culture and the northern border.

Orientation

The Altavista area is located almost on the Tropic of Cancer, oriented in such a way that the corners of the structures coincide with the cardinal points, not uncommon in Mesoamerica (INAH).

From the hills you can see the alignment of the sun with the other hill, and this in turn aligned with the Altavista labyrinth. This is a corridor delimited by walls and pilasters. From this corridor, you can see the sunrise over the top of the hill.

Structures

The majority of the identified structures have not yet been discovered or investigated.

Hall of Columns

Early structure. Square enclosure with remains of 28 columns, probably roof supports. It was built on a base, integrated into a patio with a central altar and a raised perimeter hallway or walkway.

It is likely that there was originally a patio in the center of the hall and that the structure was modified to have a full roof. It was later filled in and converted into a platform.

Gamio Staircase

It was probably access to the previous building. Apparently several of the columns were reinforced, with buttresses attached to exterior walls; it is possible that structural failures of the room were due to this.

In the northern corner of the enclosure, a multiple tomb was found, with four offering containers. The vessels are engraved with an eagle, with snakes and lightning in its beak and talons. The hall was probably dedicated to the god Tezcatlipoca (Jaguar god of the Night and Northern Skies).

Pyramid of the Sun

It was not found that this structure was the first of three construction stages. Above it there are remains of a temple with battlements. Inside there is a crypt that had the remains of three people with elaborate offerings, it is assumed that they belong to important people of the place (priests-rulers).

Temple of Skulls

Adobe walls and floors with stucco were found. It is located southwest of the Pyramid of the Sun. It has a small entrance of 70 centimeters in the southeast wall. There are two 40 centimeter holes, probably the foundation of two posts that supported a roof support frame. There is a fireplace made of rock and stuccoed adobe; two square meters. Disarticulated human bones (skulls, jaws and bones) were found on the floor, the skulls have perforations, and the femurs were tied with rope. It is estimated that these remains could have been part of offerings associated with human sacrifice.

The labyrinth

A long corridor of masonry walls located next to the Hall of Columns.; It is made up of several turns and pillars with various angles. Several modifications made to the hallway after its original construction were identified. An alignment has been found between the extension of the corridor and the peak of Picacho Hill (equinoctial sunrise). At sunrise, the labyrinth is illuminated with sunlight, which is why it has been called "solar path".

Other structures

There are many other structures not yet studied, the southwest platform of the patio has remains of some structures; a central pyramid and small enclosures on both sides.

Neglect of the Area

The population of Chalchihuites is concerned about the lack of security in the area and the lack of security for the important and valuable collection of archaeological pieces that the museum itself houses.