Cañada de la Virgen

Cañada de la Virgen is an Otomi archaeological site that has been recently excavated. Located in the state of Guanajuato, the site was first discovered 1998 and the official excavation began in 2002 Public access was first allowed in 2011. However, unlike its famous counterparts such as Chichen-Itzá, access is strictly controlled due to it sitting on private property; presumably the largest ex–hacienda in Mexico.

The Otomi people have lived in the valley of San Miguel De Allende for thousands of years. It is presumed that construction at 'Cañada De La Virgen' most likely began after the collapse of the Teotihuacan culture, where they are believed to have previously resided along with other tribes in the Valley of Mexico (near Mexico City today) around 530 AD. The Otomi were avid sky watchers and passed on information down from generation to generation. These people used astronomical criteria, religious beliefs and agricultural cycles in selecting the Laja River Valley for the construction of this Pre-Hispanic burial site. The site faces the celestial north, where the stars spin around in a circle throughout the year. The moon moves up the stairs of the pyramid as its cycle advances. It rises and falls perfectly in pyramid notches at key times in the lunar calendar and during solstice periods it turns out that the planets are lined up as well.

The site was ruled by the Moon the Sun and Venus, as demonstrated by archaeological-astronomy studies by the National Institute of anthropology and history (INAH) has made on the site. It is composed of smaller sects, including pyramids. The main ones are: Ceremonial Avenue, House of the Winds, House of the Longest Night- scientists believe has some relationship with the Otomi’s belief in duality of the heavens and earth (Sun and Moon, Man and Woman, etc.), and House of the Thirteen Heavens.

Around 900 AD, the Otomi civilization began to decline and by 1050 AD, Cañada was abandoned, only to be rediscovered at the end of the 20th century. Work and research continues to this day.

On site are seven enormous architectonic structures (pyramidal structures) of different sizes and styles, that form sunken patios, squares, a game of ball, esplanades, and a 1 km long road. Ceramic superficial vestiges found suggest that the last occupation would be tied chronologically to the Toltec expansion.

This prehispanic settlement is located on the northern Mesoamerican border, its main monuments were sky observatories. Its urban design reflects cosmic cycles linked with farmers’ groups’ life that also were hunter-gatherer in the surrounding semi-desert regions, and traded with other Mesoamerican regions artifacts used in ritual activities.

...
Wikipedia