One of the most outstanding discoveries at the site of La Nopalera is its funerary architecture. The excavation work allowed us to find a series of burials that are key to understanding the occupation of La Nopalera. The so-called Courtyard of the Tombs is located in the southwest end of the sunken courtyard. Here, about seven tombs were excavated, built from worked quarry blocks and covered with large slabs that served as roofs. At least six tombs corresponded to individually buried individuals who were accompanied by a sumptuous ceramic offering and artifacts such as metates, black obsidian pieces, shell objects, etc. Initially it was thought that these burials were contemporary to Tzintzuntzan; however, recent studies indicate that they belong to a period prior to the Tarascan lordship, between the years 200 and 500. In the upper part of the tombs, several direct burials were placed, that is, without any special construction to place the bodies accompanied by objects with a clear Tarascan affiliation. This action not only indicates a radical change in burial patterns, but also marks the establishment of Tzintzuntzan power in the Cuitzeo region.

In the southern sector of the site there is a rock outcrop where several petroglyphs with various representations of dots, spirals and some other abstract motifs were found. Of this group, the remains of a dotted cross stand out, an element that apparently had a calendrical purpose.

This type of architectural space is characterized by being the axis around which several buildings are distributed. In La Nopalera, the sunken patio follows the same pattern that appeared in the neighboring Bajío region during the years 100-900, that is, a space surrounded by a perimeter structure and lacking a central altar. The work carried out by archaeologist Angelina Macias in the 1980s revealed that the surface of this space had a rough cobblestone 1.30 m below the perimeter sidewalk. Towards the north and south flanks of the patio are the access stairways, and there was another one at the west end of the patio that cannot be seen because it was covered during the period of Tarascan occupation.

Archaeologist Angelina Macias also discovered 35 burials with elements of Tarascan affiliation at that time. Although they did not present a pattern, it was determined that they were arranged inside the filling, so it is inferred that they were part of an offering related to the construction of the new temple. Likewise, several limbs and skulls were found showing mutilation and decapitation practices. According to the Relación de Michoacán, when a temple was built, it was customary to sacrifice some people, generally captives.

It is composed of two axes that cross two concentric circles, traced by means of small hollows in the stone. The orientation of the axes generally follows the cardinal points with very few degrees of deviation. In this way the “Mesoamerican cosmos” was represented, that is, the four directions and the center. The presence of this petroglyph at La Nopalera dates from the first period of occupation of the site.

Originally it was thought that it was a space where the elite of La Nopalera lived, because it consists of a series of rooms in which the archaeological material was not so abundant. Today it is proposed that this area corresponds to an intermediate stage of occupation of the site.

This strip of land is located on the west side of the Sunken Patio. Here, 35 burials with elements of Tarascan affiliation were found, as well as several limbs and skulls that indicate mutilation and decapitation practices.

Within the Mesoamerican religious tradition, plazas played an important role because they were used for various activities, including the congregation of people during religious celebrations. The East Plaza occupies a central place in the conformation of the last stage of the site. The stairway, located on the west façade of Mound 2, is a sign that at some point the temple was related to the plaza, and it is inferred that they were part of the same architectural complex. The relationship between plaza and temple is common in sites such as Ihuatzio and Tzintzuntzan.

It is located at the northern end of the Sunken Patio. The building is composed by a mixed platform, that is, by a circular floor to the north, and another one of rectangular form located in the direction of the sunken Patio. Although this construction maintains similarities with the yacatas of the Tarascan architecture, it is not in its proportions. It should be noted that this same type of building has been reported in the vicinity of Salamanca, in the current state of Guanajuato.

Inside this space, remains of a burnt mud covering with traces of reed, a very common material in the region, were found. In the exterior part of the temple a construction was discovered that has been interpreted as an adoratory.