El Cerrito (Querétaro)
El Cerrito ("little mountain") is a pre-Hispanic site in the Municipio Corregidora near the Mexican city of Santiago de Querétaro .
location
The archaeological site of El Cerrito is grouped around an approx. 7 km (driving distance) southwest of Querétaro at an altitude of approx. 1815 m above sea level. d. M. located hill.
history
Excavations have shown that the site was inhabited by members of the Chupícuaro culture in pre-Christian times . The square was probably expanded by members of the Teotihuacán - Toltec culture in the years 900 to 1200 and was still used by Otomí - Chichimecs and the Tarasks after the arrival of the Spaniards . In 1887 a Spanish landlord ( señor ) built a house with octagonal corner turrets on top of the pyramid.
buildings
- The most striking building is the multi-tiered Great Pyramid, in which 3 different construction phases can be distinguished. It has a square floor plan with a side length of approx. 83 m and a height of approx. 30 m. Stairs lead up to the former temple on all four sides. The outer walls of all outer walls are equally slightly bevelled; the Talud-tablero system so characteristic of the architecture of Teotihuacán and Tula does not therefore exist here. The entire structure was once covered with stucco and painted in color.
- On the southeast side of the temple pyramid is a sunken place ( patio hundido ), which has been identified as Tzompantli by some archaeologists .
- On a large platform raised by human hands there are further buildings ( palacios ) and places ( plazas ), where remains of altars and offerings have also been found.
- A ball playground has not (yet) been identified.
Sculptures
A few remains of Chac-Mool figures, atlases , columns and ceramics were found in the ruins ; Steles, however - as in most archaeological sites in the central Mexican highlands - were not discovered.
Web links
- El Cerrito - Photos + Info (Spanish)
- El Cerrito - Info (INAH, Spanish)
See also
Coordinates: 20 ° 33 ′ 5.5 ″ N , 100 ° 26 ′ 39 ″ W.