Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes

Map

The Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes: A Key Cultural Crossroads in North America

The Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes, located in the northwestern Mexican state of Chihuahua, stands as a testament to the rich cultural history that once thrived in this region. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, this ancient settlement played a pivotal role in facilitating trade and fostering cultural exchanges between various civilizations across North America and Mesoamerica during the 14th and 15th centuries.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Paquimé, Casas Grandes, which reached its apogee in the 14th and 15th centuries, played a key role in trade and cultural contacts between the Pueblo culture of the south-western United States and northern Mexico and the more advanced civilizations of Mesoamerica. The extensive remains, only part of which have been excavated, are clear evidence of the vitality of a culture which was perfectly adapted to its physical and economic environment, but which suddenly vanished at the time of the Spanish Conquest.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion iii: Paquimé Casas Grandes bears eloquent and abundant testimony to an important element in the cultural evolution of North America, and in particular to prehispanic commercial and cultural links. Criterion iv: The extensive remains of the archaeological site of Paquimé Casas Grandes provide exceptional evidence of the development of adobe architecture in North America, and in particular of the blending of this with the more advanced techniques of Mesoamerica.

Encyclopedia Record: Casas Grandes

Casas Grandes is a prehistoric archaeological site in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. Construction of the site is attributed to the Mogollon culture. Casas Grandes has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the purview of INAH and a "Pueblo Mágico" since 2015.

Read more on Wikipedia