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Archaeological Zones to open in Guanajuato
Notimex | El Universal • Foto por: Efraín Cárdenas / Colegio de Michoacán [COLMUCH]
Translated by Eduardo Rincón Gallardo – Agosto 2008

The cultural offer of the state of Guanajuato will be increased with the forthcoming inauguration of new archaeological zones such as Peralta which, added to Plazuelas and Cañada de la Virgen, will be one more option to gaze into the region’s past and obtain a better understanding of its present.

The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH, National Institute of Anthropology and History) informed that their researchers are working on the restoration and conservation of Peralta, as well as on the consolidation of structures permitting an intimate contact of visitors with the buildings of the site in its forthcoming inauguration; the works are on their final stage.

During an interview, Efraín Cárdenas García, researcher for the INAH and responsible of the local archaeological project, mentioned that the zone is formed by several spread out ensembles on the side of the Cerro Peralta (Peralta hill) which date back to the Epi-Classic period in its earlier stages (300-700 a.d.).

The first restoration works go back to 2003, accounting for six uninterrupted years of interventions in the site; they are the result of a bank trust in which INAH, the state government, the municipality of Abasolo and the Colegio de Michoacán (Michoacán College) participate, the specialist added.

Located in the community of San José Peralta, on the side of the road going to Huanímaro, in the Municipality of Abasolo; the zone is formed by two platforms, five sunken patios and another platform called the Precinct of the Governors, formed by a large patio surrounded by rooms dedicated to public, ceremonial and ritual functions and featuring the same characteristics as the “Citadel” in Teohtihuacan.

It is worth noting that the mentioned structures are those that have been researched so far, as there are other groups of structures complementing the site, which will be excavated at later field periods. Specialists have estimated its period to have been 600 to 900 a.d., which corresponds the Late Classic period.

The Cerro Peralta has to date six archaeological groups and work is underway for the rescue, study and protection of the ceremonial part where governors carried out public celebrations. Mid-range sites and lodging facilities have not yet been explored, Cárdenas García declared.

Counter to the Meso-American architecture which distinguishes itself for its great plazas and open spaces, the Bajío Zone, features enclosed places, like the sunken patios, they have been called so after those found in Monte Albán (Oaxaca) by Professor Alfonso Caso.

Basalt –a grayish, phased rock- was used for the construction of the structures concentrated in this site, with a clay mortar substance gluing them; as in the north of the country, in Peralta there are buildings, walls, floors and finishings made from clay combined with plant fibers.

This place shared the same cosmo-vision as in Cañada de la Virgen, a relationship that can be appreciated in the similarities of both their constructions.

Therefore researchers arrived to the conclusion that both groups shared cultural and social practices; it is believed to have been inhabited by the Náhuas groups.

Different materials were obtained from the excavations, like ceramics decorated in negative or inversed, tones of orange with black stripes, pots and one of the richest offerings found in the region, including a turquoise necklace, two seashell necklaces and almost 40 pieces of ceramics.

According to the specialist, the turquoise used in the necklace originated in the zone of New Mexico, which is telltale of a great commerce with what is now Arizona and the mine of Cerritos, where such material was abundant.

The zone’s stone work corresponds to the monumental type, and due to its roughness, sophisticated and elaborated craftsmanship is almost inexistent.

Given its geographical position, an important commercial boom with the cultures of the north of the country like La Quemada, Chalchihuites and the “Altos de Jalisco” (Jalisco upper lands) is considered to have existed; counter to what longtime was believed, the Bajío region is part of Meso-America, although at its rim, it is part of it.

Cárdenas estimates that the collection obtained through these works brought about a total of 80 pieces in total; these pieces are undergoing works of restoration and consolidation in order to become part of the museum on site to be built in the archaeological zone.

For the construction of a museum space in the zone a lot has been dedicated, it is part of the last stage of works of the project, archaeologist Cárdenas considers it will  be ready this year to incorporate the exhibits.

INAH expects the Archaeological Zone of Peralta Guanajuato to be open to the public in the early months of 2009. Email to a friend

Source: http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/

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