Paquimé
Archeological site
Paquimé
Patrimonio mundial
This site is famous for its adobe constructions and its T-shaped doors, which demonstrates the architectural skills of its ancient inhabitants. Toward the west of the city there is a row of structures built with stone and mortar which were probably coated in painted lime, and functioned as a ceremonial center.
Paquimé is located in the north of Mexico, in the geographical region of the Chihuahua Desert, where the Casas Grandes, Santa María and El Carmen rivers act as the arteries of life. In 1998, it was enrolled in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as its remains tell us not only about the cultural value of this archeological site, but also provide a unique and exceptional testimony of the connections between Mesoamerica and the north of Mexico. They provide an excellent example of the building’s typological development and architectural design.
The traces of a history framed in a magnificent setting of earthen architecture are found here. This history began around the year 600 AD with the first trench house villages, located near the natural springs in the riverside areas. These villages were abandoned around the year 900 and substituted for buildings made from clay, or mud, walls. The first multi-family sites are houses with internal courtyards used as domestic areas and workshops.
Thanks to the development of irrigation agriculture in around the year 1200, the wealth acquired allowed for the architectural development of the family unit and building began for a population center comprised of large family settlements up to three floors in height with storerooms, living areas, bedrooms and reception rooms, intended for use by the ruling class. Workshops were also built for craftspeople and temples for religious worship, squares for markets, ballgame courts and hydraulic systems with wells and canals, for the convenience of the village.
During this period, trade with the peoples further north and the cultures of Western Mexico considerably increased regional interaction, and various artisan trades prospered. They imported macaw from the south, turquoise and copper objects from the north, salt from the Samalayuca desert and shells from various animal species traded from the Pacific coasts. They exported high value luxury objects to these same regions: polychromatic ceramic, anthropomorphous vases or figurines, and turquoise and copper objects, as well as raw clay, among many other materials. Today, these are exhibited in the Museum of Northern Cultures located in the same archeological area. arqueológica.
- Dirección de la Zona Arqueológica y Museo de SitioMauricio Salgado Servínmauricio_salgado@inah.gob.mx+52 (636) 692 4140Administración de la Zona Arqueológico y Museo de SitioAdrián Manuel Pérez Chávezadrianmanuel_perez@inah.gob.mx+52 (636) 692 4140Responsable de ConservaciónEduardo Pio Gamboa Carreraeduardo_gamboa@inah.gob.mx+52 (636) 692 4140
Arquitectura religiosa
Mound of the Heroes: With its stuccoed stone façade, which reaches a height of almost four meters, it was located in front of the Market.
Arquitectura religiosa
Mound of the Heroes: With its stuccoed stone façade, which reaches a height of almost four meters, it was located in front of the Market. During the excavations a layer of ash was detected on the surface of the mound, which indicates the existence of a structure or tower that could have served as communication with the watchtower of the Moctezuma hill. In its general architectural form it resembles a decapitated bird. Its name was awarded in a later historical stage, since in that mound were buried the revolutionary heroes fallen during the battle of Casas Grandes in 1914.
Mound of the Cross: It is a small cruciform promontory whose tops are small circular platforms with masonry finishes at its ends. Its location in the north end of the city allows the mound to have a preponderant point of view in the horizon. It is oriented to the north with a small deviation of eight degrees; it is probably directly related to key dates of the agricultural calendar.
Arquitectura civil
The urban fabric of Paquimé reveals a sequence of constructions built over more than four hundred years of history. Some units were built during the early phases of the Middle Period (ca. 1200-1300) and were significantly modified at a later date.
Arquitectura civil
The urban fabric of Paquimé reveals a sequence of constructions built over more than four hundred years of history. Some units were built during the early phases of the Middle Period (ca. 1200-1300) and were significantly modified at a later date.
Walled House: The Walled House was built in the Middle Period and has undergone several modifications at different times.
The House of Columns: It is an area of courtyards and rooms that came to have several floors, perhaps up to four or five. In some walls it is possible to appreciate the traces of the tapancos and floors. The tallest structure, similar to an obelisk, is identified as “El Pilarón”, although it is actually the corner of a multi-story building that, for unknown reasons, was stronger than the others. In the southern walls of the Casa de las Columnas, the construction details are very clear: the walls were built by filling a wooden structure with damp earth that was then tamped down; this technique is similar to that of today's cast or poured cement. It should be noted that this adobe did not have straw, that is, even if we call it “adobe” it does not have the form of a partition wall or some kind of catalyst.
The House of the Macaw: The House of the Macaw was probably the residence of those individuals described by Father Sahagún as “feather merchants”, a guild that in Paquimé was dedicated to the breeding of macaws. It is located in a central part of the city and its main entrances are directly linked to the Central Plaza. In this small apartment complex, only one story high, there are still the niches or boxes in which these animals were bred, as well as other facilities for their management.
House of the Dead: Archaeological evidence in the House of the Dead (Unit 12) suggests that its inhabitants were healers, as they performed rituals related to death. The rooms contained a large number of burials, both individual and multiple, which were associated with offerings (such as ceramic drums and other objects); as well as objects related to ceremonies in which macaws were used.
House of the Skulls: The House of the Skulls (Unit 6) was so called because of the finding of a mobile made with human skulls in one of its rooms. It is considered that it was formed by 198 rooms, so it could have been inhabited by around 500 people.
Arquitectura pública
It consists of squares designed to meet the needs of market and coexistence.
Arquitectura pública
It consists of squares designed to meet the needs of market and coexistence.
Water tank: At the entrance there is a structure that served as a sedimentation tank, from which water was filtered into the main pond. Later, through a sluice gate, the water was discharged through several channels that passed through the living areas.
Central Plaza or Plaza-Mercado: The Central Plaza or Plaza-Mercado was conceived to facilitate the exchange and commercialization of regional products. Its location, surrounded by communicating structures, creates a network of links between the various buildings intended to offer different products and services: poultry, healers, handicrafts, precious stones, etcetera. The layout of the market denotes a plan to allow visitors to flow without interrupting the activities of the city's residents.
