Los Guachimontones

Los Guachimontones (alternatively Huachimontones) is a pre-Columbian archaeological site near the Mexican town of Teuchitlán in the state of Jalisco. It is the major site of the so-called Teuchitlan tradition,[1] a complex society that existed from as early as 300 BCE until perhaps 900 CE.

The dominant features at los Guachimontones are circular stepped pyramids in the middle of circular building complexes. The 60-foot (18 m) tall pyramid at Circle 2 has 13 high steps leading to an upper level, which was then topped with another 4 high steps. A post hole was located at the very highest level, most likely for volador ceremonies.[2] The pyramids may also have supported small temples.

Sunken circular plazas surround each pyramid and a series of smaller mounds surround the plazas. On top of the mounds are platforms that once supported wooden buildings made of wood and clay.

The site has a total of 10 circular complexes, four rectangular plazas, two ballcourts.


Image copyright: Ramon Morales (Ramon Morales), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.