Quick Links
Mexico is a country that has long captured the popular imagination with its extensive pre-Columbian cities and complex pre-Columbian societies. The grandest and most famous pre-Columbian city outside of Mexico City is Teotihuacan, home to the great pyramids of the Sun and Moon. To the south, the Maya cities a found across a number of countries in the Yucatán Peninsula area (one of the most important cities is Tikal in Guatemala).
But there are also plenty of ancient cities and archeological sites in Mexico which are less well-known but tell their own fascinating history. One largely overlooked site is La Quemada. It is an ancient site for which there are more questions than answers and a site that demonstrates how much more there is to learn about pre-Columbian Mexico.
La Quemada - A Mesoamerican City Shrouded In Mystery
La Quemada is located in the modern Mexican state of Zacatecas and around 56 km out of the city of the same name. La Quemada is a site shrouded with mystery and secrets. It is not even known which civilization it belonged to. Some have suggested it could be the legendary Chicomostoc, or it could be a Caxcan site, or it could be a Teotihuacan fortress, or perhaps it could have been a Purepecha center, maybe it was a Toltec trading post, or it could have been some sought of independent development by the tribes of the area.
Perhaps one day, the answers will come to light, but for now, the archeological site of La Quemada shows just how incomplete the modern understanding of the history of Mesoamerica is.
It is thought that La Quemada developed between 300 and 1200 AD (during the Classical and early Postclassical periods). It seems that later in its history, the site developed a more defensive character with large walls being constructed. The city seems to have had a violent end being destroyed by fire (hence its name 'la (Ciudad) quemada' or "the burnt city"). Only a few buildings survived its burning.
Some of the pre-Columbian sites, like La Quemada, were destroyed long before the Spanish arrived, and others, like Tenochtitlan, were destroyed by the Spanish. In Mexico City, it's possible to see the remains of the ancient Aztec temple pyramid that the Spanish destroyed.
The Ruins Of La Quemada & What To Expect
While not as impressive as other cities like Teotihuacan, the ruins of La Quemada are worth seeing. It is made up of different size masonry platforms that have been built onto the hill. There is a concentration of ceremonial structures on the south and southeastern sides, with more residential structures on the west side.
La Quemada is divided into four main sections - the most notable of which are "The Acropolis" and "The Citadel." The Acropolis is made up of six levels and includes notable ruins like the Hall of Columns, the Ball Court, the Votive Pyramids, the Plaza de Los Maestros, and other ruins.
The Votive Pyramid is one of the most eye-catching structures that remain and is over 10 meters (or 30 feet) high. Originally there was a stairway that reached the top of the pyramid where a temple likely existed. The pyramid is a ruin, and the middle and top parts have crumbled over the years.
The Citadel is thought to have been built towards the end of the occupation of La Quemada, and these buildings were used for defense and ceremonies.
Visiting The La Quemada Site Museum & Planning A Visit To The Site
Within the archeological site is the La Quemada Site Museum. Everyone should visit the museum to make better sense of the ancient city and its ruins. The museum has a scale model of the site, a number of descriptive videos of prehistoric towns (which also include Loma San Gabriel and Chalchihuites) in the Zacatecas region, and more.
- Opening Hours: Daily 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Visiting La Quemada is a must for anyone passing through the stunning Mexican state of Zacatecas. To get to the site, follow highway 54 south from the City of Zacatecas for 35 miles. It's also possible to take a bus from the city's terminal, but it's more convenient to have a hire car. For a better experience, consider hiring a tour guide.
While in the area, take the time to visit the Mexican city of Zacatecas. It's a stunning city and one of the must-see places in Mexico that are not Cancun.