Ihuatzio (archaeological site)

This article is about the prehispanic Purépecha archaeological site in Mexico. For the modern-day city in Michoacán, see Ihuatzio.
Ihuatzio Archaeological site
Twin pyramids
LocationTzintzuntzan, Michoacán
 Mexico
RegionMesoamerica
Coordinates19°34′41″N 101°37′20″W / 19.57806°N 101.62222°W / 19.57806; -101.62222
TypeMesoamerican archaeology
History
FoundedFirst occupation: 900–1200 CE; second: 1200–1530 CE
PeriodsMesoamerican: Preclassical, Classical and Postclassical
CulturesToltec and Purépecha cultures
Site notes
WebsiteIhuatzio Archaeological Site INAH Web Page

Ihuatzio is an archaeological site in Michoacán state, Mexico. It is at the southern slopes of Cerro Tariaqueri, just north of the Ihuatzio town, in the Tzintzuntzan municipality.[1]

The ancient site is some 7 kilometers south-east of Tzintzuntzan, on the south-eastern shore of the Lake Pátzcuaro. Human settlements vestiges are registered from two different occupational periods; the first occurred between 900 and 1200 CE, corresponding to Nahuatl language speaking groups; the second group corresponding to the maximum development reached by the Purépecha Culture, between 1200 and 1530 CE.

This archaeological site was built on an artificially leveled plateau, and it is considered very important, for the Michoacán prehispanic history, it was an astronomical observatory and ceremonial center. Although it is relatively small, the pyramids dedicated to "Curicaueri" and "Xaratanga"[2] are remarkable. A sculpture representing a chac-mool[3] (characteristic of the Toltec culture) was found; as well as a series of roads and walls surrounding the site.[4]

The prehispanic settlement fully covers a low-lying plateau and kept a strategic location at the extreme west of the lake and other dominant sites as Tzintzuntzan.[1]

On 29 July 2024, one of the pyramids was heavily damaged from the effects of an unusually intense rainstorm, exacerbated by structural weaknesses resulting from prior conditions of drought and high temperatures. Officials expressed that they would be attempting to restore the ancient monument to preserve the region's "cultural heritage".[5]

  1. ^ a b Cortés Vélez, Heriberto (March 27, 2006). "Michoacán y su historia a través de sus zonas arqueológicas" [Michoacán and its history through its archaeological zones] (in Spanish). Cambio de Michoacán. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Ihuatzio" (in Spanish). Panorama de Michoacan, Universidad Michoacana. Archived from the original on 2009-02-28. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  3. ^ A chac-mool is a type of Prehispanic Mesoamerican stone statue, it depicts a human figure in a reclining position with the head up and turned to one side, holding a tray over the stomach. Chac-mool statues are found in or around temples in Toltec and other post-Classic central Mexican sites, and in post-Classic Maya civilization sites with heavy Toltec influence, such as Chichen Itza.
  4. ^ Cárdenas García, Efraín; Villanueva Medina, Eugenia F. "INAH Michoacán, página web Ihuatzio" [Michoacan INAH Web Site for Ihuatzio]. INAH (in Spanish). Mexico. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  5. ^ Brewis, Harriet (2024-08-20). "'Bad omen' declared after ancient pyramid suddenly collapses". indy100. Retrieved 2024-08-21.