Querende (Cuetlajuchitlán)
Archeological site
Querende (Cuetlajuchitlán)
Inhabited for 900 years from 600 BC by Olmec and Mezcala culture people. It is constructed with long stone blocks forming plazas, places of worship and a water supply system. A modern highway was forced to go through a 160 foot deep tunnel to avoid damaging the site.
At the end of the Late Preclassic, Cuetlajuchitlan was one of the main settlements of the north of the present day state of Guerrero. It was discovered in 1991 during works on the Autopista del Sol (highway). The archeological heritage was successfully preserved thanks to the Los Querende tunnel, which is also the name the locals give the site.
Only two acres of the archeological site’s 35 acres have been excavated. It is known that the settlement was occupied in 800 BC, although it reached its peak between 200 BC and 200 AD. It is distinguished by its robust buildings made from massive carved stone blocks. The stone figurines linked to the Mezcala culture belong to this stage.
During this period of splendor, the elite governors of the settlement came under the sphere of influence of the groups inhabiting the valley of Morelos, who had close ties with Teotihuacan, the great metropolis of the Central Highlands, at the same time as maintaining their relationships with other parts of the state of Guerrero, such as the central region.
The architectural style, with its pre-urban characteristics, is notable for the hundreds of columnar blocks of stone, which were both functional and ornamental. The settlement layout is also characterized by the presence of residential complexes in the far north and south. The settlement’s principal functions and ceremonies were in the central part, distributed around square sunken patios with small central stairways on the four sides.
- Dirección del Centro INAHHéctor Romeo Torres Calderónhector_torres@inah.gob.mx+52 (747) 471 7121
Recinto ceremonial 1
It is the most important building of the site. It has a rectangular floor plan (28 m from north to south and 18 m from east to west) and was built with large quarry blocks. Two monolithic tubs were found inside, possibly used for ritual baths.
Recinto ceremonial 1
It is the most important building of the site. It has a rectangular floor plan (28 m from north to south and 18 m from east to west) and was built with large quarry blocks. Two monolithic tubs were found inside, possibly used for ritual baths. The water supply and control were achieved thanks to a complicated drainage system. It is probable that the most important ceremonies, reserved for high ranking personalities, took place there.
Monolithic tubs: View of the tubs, made of pink quarry stone.
Recinto ceremonial 2
It is a space similar to the previous one, although of smaller dimensions, and it was probably older. It also has two monolithic vats. Evidence of reuse of construction materials was found in this place.
Recinto ceremonial 2
It is a space similar to the previous one, although of smaller dimensions, and it was probably older. It also has two monolithic vats. Evidence of reuse of construction materials was found in this place. Apparently, this feature is related to the carving and facing of the cylindrical and rectangular quarry blocks used in later constructions.
Patio 2
Located to the north of the ceremonial Precinct 1, it consists of a sunken courtyard with a small stone templete faceted, in whose center there is a block of quarry as an altar. It is surrounded by five rooms in which perhaps the elite performed their ceremonies.
Complejos habitacionales
The people of the highest hierarchical levels lived on the northern, southern and western slopes of the site. From there, the distribution continued in axes, with linked corridors that formed platforms where living quarters were built around sunken courtyards.
Complejos habitacionales
The people of the highest hierarchical levels lived on the northern, southern and western slopes of the site. From there, the distribution continued in axes, with linked corridors that formed platforms where living quarters were built around sunken courtyards. For these rooms, pink quarry walls, drainage and water collection systems were used, as well as small warehouses for grains and other foodstuffs.
