Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff
Epiclassic (600–900 CE) late Classic Bajío·Bajío (Tarascan ancestor) with Teotihuacan theme brazier·🇲🇽 Guanajuato, Pénjamo municipality, above Rio Grande de Morelia, Sierra Pénjamo cliff, Plazuelas, Mexico
About
About Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff
Plazuelas excavated by INAH 1998–, 1200 pecked spirals. Recorded context — Period: Epiclassic (600–900 CE) late Classic Bajío; Culture: Bajío (Tarascan ancestor) with Teotihuacan theme brazier; Field status: excavated; Materials: stone, petroglyph, plaster; Condition: preserved.
Why it mattersKey Bajío (Tarascan ancestor) with Teotihuacan theme brazier pyramid with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Astronomical alignment
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Seasonal gathering
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 600 CE Casas Tapadas phase
- Period
- Epiclassic (600–900 CE) late Classic Bajío
- Culture
- Bajío (Tarascan ancestor) with Teotihuacan theme brazier
- Purpose
- Three pyramidal temples on cliff spur (Casas Tapadas 15 m high) with 1200 rock engravings — Bajío cliff sanctuary with Teotihuacan pecked glyphs
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1977
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 600 CE Casas Tapadas phase
Initial construction / first occupation at Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff
1920 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff
On the ground
Structures & features
20.3830° N · 101.8260° W · 1780 m · 3 mapped features
- Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff — Principal Pyramidpyramidpyramid at Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff — outlier feature20.3812° N · 101.8244° W
- Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff — Northern Chamberchamberchamber at Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff — hydraulic feature20.3834° N · 101.8245° W
- Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff — Southern Causewaycausewaycauseway at Plazuelas — Three Temples on Sierra Pénjamo Cliff — hydraulic feature20.3846° N · 101.8253° W