Chupícuaro

Abstract

This paper overviews of the results of the archaeological research carried out since 1998 on the Chupicuaro culture of north-central Mexico, which is considered as one of the major entities of the Preclassic Mesoamerican World. This research reconstructs cultural dynamics in the Valley of Acambaro, considered as the core area of Chupicuaro emergence, during the Middle and Late Preclassic periods (600 BC-250 AD.), in order to better assess its role in the regional and supraregional processes. Following a reminder of the general problems and various methods applied, we show that the valley was densely populated and that the settlement pattern, at its peak period (400-100 BC. J.-C), was structured by the presence of the Lerma River and numerous hydrothermal springs. The major abandonment of settlements around 100 BC, has been correlated through geomorphological studies with the formation of a lake due to drainage problems downstream. Moreover, excavations have uncovered remains including monumental architecture, such as circular and quadrangular constructions, and shaft tombs, which indicate cultural links with people living in western Mexico. Finally, it was only around the second century BC that the archaeological record shows some indicators of interaction with central Mexico.

Keywords

• hydrothermalism
• Mesoamerica
• Mexique
• paleoenvironment
• Préclassic
• shaft tombs