Pyramid Found in a Field in Michoacan is a Yacata
From: http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=32660
Aug 19, 2009
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MEXICO CITY.- Looking for a good place to sow avocado, Jose Humberto Tellez and Apolinar Piceno Guillen found a pyramid covered with weed in a plot located in Ario de Rosales municipality, Michoacan.
After retiring part of the weed from the monument, they took photographs and notified Michoacan INAH Center. Archaeologist Roberto Gonzalez Zuñiga went to Tipitarillo, observed the pictures and verified it is a Yacata, a base with a rectangular form that combines semi circular elements.
After covering the area, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) expert ratified there is one 4 meters pyramid with a 20 by 14 meters rectangular base and 6 staggered bodies. Conservation state is good.
The monument could have been part of a Classic period (300-850 AD) ceremonial center, possibly influenced by Teotihuacan, informed the specialist, adding there are other elements in the site that are currently in exploration stage.
“By its construction and materials, the structure found is similar to those at Timbangato Archaeological Zone, near Patzcuaro, which is 9 meters high with a 35 meters base”.
The Yacata has 2 constructive stages; the lowest is better preserved because, apparently, in a late stage the highest was removed to conduct agricultural work. “It reached 25 meters long, 20 wide and 6 high”.
Where today is Michoacan, Purepecha culture developed during Prehispanic times, but archaeologist Gonzalez Zuñiga explained other groups inhabited there as well. “Mazahua, Nahua and Otomi peoples dwelled here, so it is difficult to affirm at the moment which of these cultures built the structure; by its location, I can determine it is not Purepecha”.
“First we have to register main features of the site by conducting a systematic cover of the area, and plan a research project”, he added.
The archaeologist declared that there was awareness of the12-15 hectares site since 2004, when municipal authorities covered the area to locate possible ecotourism potential areas.
Architect Maria Lizbeth Aguilera Garibay, director of Michoacan INAH Center, declared INAH Archaeological Salvage Direction has been asked for support to register the area with a GPS system, to determine its dimension and count on a graphic description to identify the site.
A revision of a Michoacan archaeological map edited several years ago is being conducted, which has information regarding 6 sites open to public visit, where other zones will be included. State and municipal authorities work jointly in this project. |
