Paquimé (Casas Grandes) — Medio Period Great House and Mound
Paquimé · Casas Grandes · Gran Chichimeca Paquimé
Medio Period (Casas Grandes, 1205–1340 CE) with Viejo substrate·Casas Grandes (Chihuahua Culture / Mogollon–Paquimé)·🇲🇽 Chihuahua State, Casas Grandes Municipality, Rio Casas Grandes valley, Mexico
About
About Paquimé (Casas Grandes) — Medio Period Great House and Mound
Paquimé (Casas Grandes) — Medio Period Great House and Mound is a multi-period tell/ancient village in Chihuahua State, Casas Grandes Municipality, Rio Casas Grandes valley, Mexico — Largest northern Mexico adobe city (3500 rooms, 3 ballcourts) — macaw-breeding and copper metallurgy capital of Chalchihuites Excavated evidence reveals Casas Grandes (Chihuahua Culture / Mogollon–Paquimé) cultural horizons with adobe architecture. The city 36 ha, 3500 rooms, 2–4 storeys; ballcourts 66×23 m (i-shaped); macaw pens 200+ birds preserves poured adobe (cob), t-shaped doors, macaw pens, copper bell metallurgy, i-shaped ballcourts technique.
Position on Chihuahua State illustrates largest medio period city — mesoamerican ballcourt + sw macaw trade + westernmost copper bells bridging mesoamerica–sw.
Why it mattersLargest Medio Period city — Mesoamerican ballcourt + SW macaw trade + westernmost copper bells bridging Mesoamerica–SW.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Paquimé macaws — Mesoamerican breeding or SW reared?
- 02Palace fire — revolt vs. invasion?
Theories
- 01Di Peso Mesoamerican pochteca vs. Lekson Chaco-Medio continuity model
- 02Casas Grandes inland polity vs. Mesoamerican colony 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.1130 CE Viejo Period; 1205–1340 CE Medio Period Great House (Casas Grandes peak); 1340–1450 CE decline
- Period
- Medio Period (Casas Grandes, 1205–1340 CE) with Viejo substrate
- Culture
- Casas Grandes (Chihuahua Culture / Mogollon–Paquimé)
- Builders
- Casas Grandes Mogollon builders
- Purpose
- Largest northern Mexico adobe city (3500 rooms, 3 ballcourts) — macaw-breeding and copper metallurgy capital of Chalchihuites
- Abandoned
- c.1450 CE Medio collapse (possibly internal revolt/Apache pressure)
- Rediscovered
- Noted 1566 Ibarra, excavated 1958–1961 Di Peso (Amerind Foundation), 1990–present INAH
- Excavation
- Excavated
1205
Medio Great Houses rise with T-shaped doors and ballcourts
1958
Di Peso opens Paquimé, macaw pens and copper bells found
1990
UNESCO inscription and INAH adobe consolidation
On the ground
Structures & features
30.3683° N · 107.9492° W · 1475 m · 3 mapped features
Medio Great House and T-Shaped Door Complex
great houseMedio 3-storey adobe Great House with T-doors
30.3685° N · 107.9490° WMacaw Breeding Pens and Copper Workshop
workshopAdobe macaw pens (200+) and copper bell workshop
30.3681° N · 107.9493° WI-Shaped Ballcourts (3 Courts, 66×23 m)
ballcourt3 I-shaped ballcourts with Chaco-Mesoamerican traits
30.3686° N · 107.9489° W