Balcón de Montezuma
Balcón de Montezuma is an archeological site located at the Alta Cumbre ejido, some 18 kilometers from Ciudad Victoria, in the Tamaulipas state, México, on Highway 101, towards San Luis Potosí.
The Site
This site represents a village (400-1200 CE) composed of around 90 circular bases distributed in two plazas; and is located on the Sierra Madre Oriental, at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level.[1]
The site contains vestiges and architectonic styles of human groups that inhabited the Sierra Madre Oriental (Sierra Gorda) region and the Sierra de Tamaulipas, whose culture and the Mesoamerican profile shares features of the Huastec culture and the US south west.[2]
This site was explored and restored between 1989 and 1990, by archaeologist Jesus Nárez. Based on the research, it is known that ancient houses found at the site – hut style with Palm roofs - were built on top of the circular bases while their dead was buried under the floors, in the 1980 decade numerous human skeletal remains were found, both children and adults.[1]
Balcón de Montezuma is representative of small farming villages of the sierra that originated in the Epiclassical period (600-900 AD.) of the Mesoamerican chronology. It comprises more than 70 circular structures of different diameters and heights grouped into two small semi-circular plazas. These bases were built with limestone, overlaid without mortar, the core is made up of dirt, small stones and pottery remains. The site displays unique characteristics, such as a small stairway with 3 to 4 steps, recessed or superimposed, with a fan-shaped base. It is thought that the bases were houses circular foundations, with “bajareque” walls and palm leaf roofs.
Archaeological material found at the site revealed practices of its people such as smoking pipes, using crystal quartz - perhaps as amulets-, necklaces, stone disks and burial of the dead under the floor of the House, accompanied by ceramic offerings. [2]
It should be noted that so far no representations of their gods has been found, nor it is known if any of the buildings functioned as temples. The original entrance to the site was via a large stairway of more than 80 steps located on the western hillside; it was built as an adaptation to natural limestone hill protrusions. [2]
References
- ^ a b "Work continued at Balcón de Montezuma" (in Spanish). Arts & History. Retrieved August 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b c "Balcón de Montezuma Offcial Web Page" (in Spanish). INAH. Retrieved August 2010.
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External links
- Tamaulipas State, official web site http://www.tamaulipas.gob.mx