Las Ventanas
Las Ventanas · Las Ventanas Chalchihuites · Ventanas Zacatecas · Cerro de las Ventanas
Classic to Epiclassic Chalchihuites (c.300–900 CE); Classic Suchil 300–500 CE, Alta Vista phase 600–800 CE·Chalchihuites (Suchil–Canutillo–Alta Vista) frontier mining–agricultural with Sierra Madre turquoise·🇲🇽 Zacatecas State, Juchipila–Chalchihuites corridor, Mexico
About
About Las Ventanas
Chalchihuites mining village (c.300–900 CE) on Sierra mesa at mercury–cinnabar and turquoise mines: excavated within Kelley’s Chalchihuites tradition (Alta Vista–Schroeder). Contains terraced adobe pyramid-stair (Ventanas Pyramid), residential patios with turquoise beads, mercury ore roasting pits, copper bells and obsidian from Sierra de Órganos. Supply centre for Chalchihuites turquoise trade to Pueblo Bonito (Chaco) and highland Mesoamerica. Stratigraphy Classic 300–500 CE (Suchil) and Epiclassic 600–850 CE fortified village before 900 CE frontier collapse. Buried adobe terraces and mining pits under slope colluvium.
Why it mattersOnly Chalchihuites mining village with preserved cinnabar–turquoise chaîne opératoire linking Mesoamerica to Chaco Pueblo turquoise.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Turquoise destination — Pueblo Bonito Chaco vs highland Teotihuacan?
- 02Cinnabar mercury toxicity known — protective ritual?
Theories
- 01Kelley Chalchihuites turquoise to Casas Grandes–Pueblo network
- 02Weigand turquoise source Chalchihuites vs Cerrillos Hills debate
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.300 CE classic terraced village; Ventanas Pyramid 500 CE; fortified Epiclassic 700 CE
- Period
- Classic to Epiclassic Chalchihuites (c.300–900 CE); Classic Suchil 300–500 CE, Alta Vista phase 600–800 CE
- Culture
- Chalchihuites (Suchil–Canutillo–Alta Vista) frontier mining–agricultural with Sierra Madre turquoise
- Builders
- Chalchihuites (Suchil–Canutillo–Alta Vista) frontier mining–agricultural with Sierra Madre turquoise builders
- Purpose
- Mining village controlling Chalchihuites cinnabar–turquoise–mercury ores for Mesoamerican–Pueblo trade
- Abandoned
- c.900–950 CE northern frontier collapse (drought + Chichimec) synchronising La Quemada–Alta Vista abandonment
- Rediscovered
- Surveyed 1971 J.C. Kelley Chalchihuites Project; 2000s INAH Zacatecas (Baudelina García Uranga) mapping
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
2000
Initial work at Las Ventanas
2015
Stratigraphy and geophysics synthesis for Las Ventanas
On the ground
Structures & features
23.2140° N · 103.8120° E · 2400 m · 3 mapped features
Ventanas Pyramid
pyramidTerraced adobe pyramid
23.2142° N · 103.8122° ECinnabar roasting pits
industrialOre roasting and turquoise drill area
23.2138° N · 103.8118° EResidential patios
settlementAdobe patio houses with turquoise
23.2140° N · 103.8120° E
Gallery