Alta Vista, the main Chalchihuites ceremonial center in Zacatecas, Northwest Mexico, was probably founded around AD 450 on the banks of the Rio Colorado. A number of important features have been identified at Alta Vista, such as an observatory, sunken plazas, temples and colonnades as well as a series of ancient subterranean galleries, probably ancient mines.
Alta Vista was first investigated at the beginning of the 20th century by the Mexican archaeologist Manuel Gamio. Gamio carried out a survey around the modern town of Chalchihuites which helped him define the settlement pattern of the Chalchihuites region and understand the role of Alta Vista as the main political and ceremonial center in the area.
Alta Vista Architecture
Alta Vista expanded and became one of the most important settlements of ancient Northwest Mexico between AD 600 and 900. The settlement core extended more than 8 ha and included an observatory that connected multiple sites through the alignment of ceremonial constructions with natural peaks in the landscape, pyramids oriented to the cardinal directions, sunken plazas, a huge colonnade--the famous Hall of Columns--as well as a road system.
Alta Vista Mines
The road system connected the site of Alta Vista to a series of subterranean mines where its ancient inhabitants extracted minerals to use in crafting and painting pottery, chert to create tools and other objects that were eventually exported. In these mines, the remains of ancient tools and discarded torches have been used to date the period of heavier operation of the mines.
Alta Vista's Social Organization
People sharing the Chalhihuites culture and living at Alta Vista between AD 600 and 900 had a highly organized social system. Miners extracted different minerals in the nearby subterranean galleries and skilled artisans crafted local stones and clay to produce decorated pottery and stone objects. They also imported turquoise from northern Zacatecas and modern New Mexico to create beautifully inlaid objects that were later exported to Central Mexico.
By AD 600, new public buildings were constructed at Alta Vista and the first evidence of social stratification appeared. Some burials show luxury and imported goods along with the presence of sacrificial victims. Furthermore, numerous, smaller settlements rose, indicating an increase of population in the region by this period.
Alta Vista Abandonment
By AD 900 many sites pertaining to the Chalchihuites culture were abandoned. Alta Vista suffered a reduction of its population and of its importance as a strategic center, even though for a while it retained some of its ceremonial importance.
Sources
Hers, Marie-Areti, 2001, La Zona Noroccidental en el Clasico y el Posclásico, in Linda Manzanilla and Leonardo Lopez Luján (eds.), Historia Antigua de Mexico, vol.II, Porrua Editor, pp: 265-300
Strazicich, Nicola M, 1998, Clay Sources, Pottery Production, and Regional Economy in Chalchihuites, Mexico, A. D. 200- 900, Latin American Antiquity, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 259-274