From Archaeology to Ideology in Northwest Mexico: Cerro de Moctezuma in the Casas Grandes Ritual Landscape

Cerro de Moctezuma, a hilltop settlement in the Casas Grandes ritual landscape of northwest Mexico, was not merely an ordinary residence but a specialized ideological center with unique architectural and symbolic features. Unlike other Media period settlements (A.D. 1200-1450), El Pueblito on Cerro de Moctezuma stands out due to its distinct construction materials, imposing buildings, and untypical settlement composition, suggesting a focus on ritual and community interactions. Comparative analyses of artifacts revealed no extraordinary differences in ceramics or stone tools, but other evidence—such as wood preference, bird wings, and elk remains—pointed to specialized, ideological interests. The site's trails, wayside shrines, and hill summit precinct were physical and symbolic places that shaped perceptions of the hill, positioning Cerro de Moctezuma as a ritual center reinforcing central beliefs from Paquime, the premier capital of the region.

Pitezel, T. (2011). From Archaeology to Ideology in Northwest Mexico: Cerro de Moctezuma in the Casas Grandes Ritual Landscape. University of Arizona. https://doi.org/10.48512/XCV8458670