MexicGo Archaeological site in Durango, Mexico by Location: La Ferreria

Archaeological Zone - The ironworks was the largest and most important Guadiana Valley in time Chalchihuites population. This is the only place in which architectural elements that refer us to the ritual life as pyramids, tennis ball game, circular structures, complex structures homers with sunken courtyards, carved into the bedrock structures, and other clearly housing combine as simple constructions runs or terraces and rooms the northern flank of the hill.

The Foundry building began around 600 AD, during the Ayala phase (600-700 AD). Occupation and redevelopment of the site continued during the Jewels (700-950 AD), both phases mark the splendor of La Forge. Over the next two phases, called Rio Tunal (950-1150 AD) and Calera (1150-1300 AD), the architectural activity and room and importance of the site declined.

So, La Forge served as ritual center, and had the highest concentration of population in the Valle de Guadiana during Chalchihuites time, besides being the point of convergence of settled villages in the valley.

At the ideological level, some findings allow to relate to The Foundry with the great Mesoamerican cultural developments. Moreover, it is evident a strong influence both groups of the Pacific Coast, and the Great Chichimeca.

The archaeological site has a site museum collects archaeological pieces recovered in the forge and includes objects from other sites in the state of Durango.

Roca recorded 1 and domestic structures

At the foot of the hill of the Forge a series of single and double rooms where several human burials have been found with simple offerings that account for their funeral rituals were located.These small houses were mainly residential character. On the other hand, it recorded by the ancient inhabitants rock, depicting a character with arms raised and carrying a headdress resembling antlers is located.

Roca recorded 2 and adjacent structures

This is the most important archaeological petroglyph area. He represents a character with arms and legs spread which wields a kind of spear with his left hand and a possible artifact, with his right hand. Along with this character you can see a number of quadrupeds have been interpreted as deer. One proposal readings of the panel, is in the sense that the character is a representation of the solar deity and deer are a representation of Venus as the morning star staging the sunrise. Set at the foot of a stone circle was built as an altar. Beside these a structure consisting of a single room with a hallway and stairs of access is located.

Structure 5 / La Casa Grande

It is a complex of rooms arranged next to a patio. Here you can see a portico, a forward-East corridor, and the remains of a temazcal that must have served for various rituals. In the inevitable sunken patio an altar, which was possibly support for the ritual display of skulls tzompantili also called, as have been found in other archaeological sites are located.

Structure 9 / The Stone House Floor

This is a small set of structures formed by a small sunken patio next to which the bedrock of the hill was carved to form a floor and part of two walls, what must have been an exhausting job for people who did not have metal tools . In the corner of that room you can see that the builders carved a fixed mortar. Here you can see two small schematic characters that were retallados shaped crosses, in colonial times, named set 3.

Structure 7 / Pyramid sets and playgrounds

At the foot of the Pyramid in its north side the remains multiple sunken patios, some rooms, a cistern and several canals that served to drain rainwater observed. In these courts they were due to gather the inhabitants of the Forge during rituals that were developed in the Pyramid.

The building is a stepped pyramid whose main characteristic It is located in the Northeast corner against forming a zigzag. Besides this you can see the main staircase on its east side, ramps on the north side and a small courtyard sunk into the top.

This brand sunken patio doors and corners points sunrise during the equinoxes and solstices, realizing an advanced architectural knowledge and stargazing.

Set of 4 engraved rocks

It is a small space formed by several rocks that limit a semicircle. These rocks have multiple carvings, among which a lot of schematic representations of female genitalia. This possibly associated with fertility rituals.

Structure 6 / Ballgame

It is a construction formed by two parallel walls, which on the inside had a penchant for making possible the bounce of the ball. In excavations it has been shown that the floor of the court was carefully constructed and ready for the game. The ballgame was a ritual event of the utmost importance; It has been interpreted as the cosmic struggle between day and night, as well as being a representation of the movement of the stars. The game was made with a rubber ball.Two teams of five to seven people per side were formed. He is throwing the ball hitting the opposing group only hip or shoulder, answering in the same way to get a team fail.

Structures 19 and 21 / Joint Circular Structures

This is a group where several circular structures, some of which consist of thick earth walls and platforms, with its north side oriented access are located. They were due to have made many rituals as localized materials we possibly refer to it. The remains indicate that in the large patio is the center of the whole practice could surely poultry for obtaining precious feathers, used by the inhabitants in their adornments and rituals.

Structure 2 / La Casa Colorada

It is a housing in which one can see the remains of houses and sunken patios, the main structure has a beautiful staircase and patio sunk very well preserved. In the same structure it can be seen an altar and a cyst which had saved offerings.

In the excavations of this area 13 human burials with rich offerings, emphasizing among them a mirror pyrite were found.

Structure 1 / The House of Leaders

It is a sunken patio carved into the bedrock, in which a series of rooms possibly for residential use are distributed. Note the preservation of the original drains patio and the orientation of the northwest corner of the mark to the hill Temascal, important place for the ancient inhabitants of the Foundry.

Excavations of the site several human burials and consistent offering in a jar chalchihuiteña and Aztatlán vessel realizes Durango relations between the highlands and the Pacific coast were located.

Hall of Columns

It is here the remains of a structure that had multiple columns cylinders made of stone and used to support a roof. Such columns are rooms with architectural features of the Chalchihuites culture. In the excavation of the area, it highlights the discovery of a fragment of bone that served slotted scraper way to make music possibly during certain rituals.

Structure 8 / Casa Colonial

Next to the hall of columns, they are the foundations of a small rustic house dating from the late colonial era and continues its occupation during the period after Mexican Independence. It is a single room house, where some activities related to metal smelting were made. In the vicinity of this house is a large circle of stones whose functions have not been determined.

Structures 10 and 12 / housing Terrazas

Looking westward from the area of the structure 1 / house leaders, you can see the remains of large terraces carved north side of the hill and it was possibly the place where he lived most of the population of the Forge, which are not open to public visits. So far we have located more than 50 terraces with remnants of simple houses and household materials that indicate the function of this area.

Structure 24 / House of stepped structures

This is a set of townhouses facing a courtyard that give name to this set by its peculiar distribution structures. In the area are also some large rocks in which the ancient people made milling activities. Of note is the finding in digging at this place of burial of a child who had not associated offerings.

Roca recorded in May

On the north side of the hill, near the floor stone house, found another engraved with the figure of a man (hunting scene) carrying an elongated object, possibly a weapon like a quadruped practically spliced with human figure. The rock on which it is made this engraving is next to a small square structure, which could not be determined its function.

La Ferreria, Mexico