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Teuchitlan
Place of the Old God
Guachimontones Pyramids

The discovery of circular structures named Guachimontones in the West part of the Country has caused great admiration and created a new scope and expectation towards the outlook and research of one of the first civilizations in the whole of Mesoamerica. The archeological site of “Los Guachimontones” seems to be the parting point of this forgotten link in Western Mexican cultures.

THE TEUCHITLAN TRADITION
Contrary to what was previously thought, since the time of Christ in the western part of Mexico there was a pre-Hispanic civilization whose development and cultural omplexity dominated the central valleys of the present day state of Jalisco.
The main characteristic that distinguishes the Teuchitlan Tradition from the rest of the

 
 

cultures of Mesoamerica is its unusual architectural style, defined by ceremonial centers in the form of concentric circles that today we call Guachimontones.
The name Guachimontones comes from the Náhuatl word Huaxe (gourd) and the Spanish word montón (pile); thus it could be translated as a pile of gourds.

THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE
The largest pre-Hispanic ruin in the state of Jalisco is located on the highest part of the hill next to Teuchitlan. It flourished around the year 300 B.C. and had its heyday from 200 to 400 D.C. during the Classic Period.
The precinct has ten circular buildings; two ball courts, rectangular plaza, residential units and cultivated terraces that were built more than 2,000 years ago.
The monumental buildings called Guachimontones are made of four sections that included a circular altar with staircases, surrounded by a patio, and closed in with a banquette that is the base for various platforms.
These concentric circles with aforementioned characteristics represent Jalisco’s unique contribution to the world’s architectural repertoire

  

DISTRIBUTION
The small pyramids had poles for the ritual of the”volador” (flyer) ceremonies that are represented in the clay models typical of the western Mexican cultures. The figure of the god Ehecatl (god of the wind, also present in Teotihuacan) stands out among the figures that have been found. The monumental circles are associated with the ball courts and one of them circles is one of the biggest in all Mesoamerica.
In the areas surrounding Teuchitlan there are also a great number of artifacts made of obsidian, a material that was utilized for the production of art pieces during the pre-Hispanic era. It is amply used in the production of tools during the period of the Guachimontones.
The geometry of the circular ruins follows principles of a cosmological nature. They are built in relationship to the four directions and they maintain a vertical axis that connects the sky, earth and the underworld. The edges of the building complex correspond to the horizon and are the markers indicating the sun’s position during the solstice and equinox.
The particular style of the Guachimontones had a cosmovision that is understood by and shared among all the people of Mesoamerica.

    
 

The tour departs from Ajijic at 8 a.m.
A certified bilingual tour guide escorts you.
You travel NW from the lakeside to arrive to Teuchitlan town.
First you visit the anthropology museum where you have the opportunity to see all the artifacts that have been found in the archeological site, as well as a big display of how the site used to be thousand of years ago.
After visiting the museum you go to the archeological site which is located on the top of the hill there you will learn more about this civilization and admire the unusual pyramids.
Afterwards, you enjoy a very delicious lunch in a nice restaurant by the lake
Later, you return to Ajijic arriving about 5 p.m.