The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán
Among the archaeological sites to visit near Pátzcuaro, you will find the archeological
site of Ihuatzio, nestled in the Lake Region.
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio |
For our guests at Hotel Mansión Iturbe who seek a cultural tourism experience, to
learn and to enjoy our region's archaeological heritage, a visit to the archaeological site of Ihuatzio is a
must-do.
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán |
To get there from Pátzcuaro, take the Road 120 towards Quiroga. On the way, you will find a detour to
Ihuatzio. The distance between Pátzcuaro
and Ihuatzio is approximately 16 kms
(7 miles). There is a sign for the site before you enter the
town. The archaeological site is located north of the village,
approximately 800 meters from the square. (You can also get there as if you
were going to Tzintzuntzan; there is
a sign for Ihuatzio about half way
to Tzintzuntzan.)
According to research, it appears that
Ihuatzio had two inhabitants at different times. The first was the Nahua
people, and the second was that of the Purépecha.
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán |
The Nahua had a rudimentary technology
to produce food. The natural characteristics and abundance of food allowed the
culture to blossom.
During archaeological investigations in 1938, a Chac Mool was found, which
pointed to the Nahua.
Subsequently, the Purépecha managed to control the area, along with Pátzcuaro and Tzintzuntzan.
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán |
Ihuatzio means "place of coyotes." It
is located in the basin of the Lake
Pátzcuaro and had its time of splendor around 1450 A.D. It is estimated
that Ihuatzio came to have a population of 40,000 inhabitants. Several
important historical sources, such as “Relación de Michoacán” and “Lienzo de Jucutacato,” make mention of
this important settlement of the Purépecha.
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán |
Ihuatzio was a ceremonial center with an
astronomical observatory, with a system of landmarks with basalt slabs
called xanamús, which completely covered the structures,
where some engravings were observed.
This pre-Hispanic settlement covers
approximately 1.7 square kilometers.
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán |
In addition to Ihuatzio’s historical importance, you can enjoy the relaxing
surroundings, unwind, and connect with nature.
From this archaeological site, you can see the island of Janitzio and its famous statue of Don José María Morelos
y Pavón.
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán |
This is also a great opportunity to
visit some of the craft workshops in and around Ihuatzio, known for its durable chuspata (shaped
iron wrapped in reeds).
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| The Archaeological Site of Ihuatzio, Michoacán |
*Text and pictures property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.
We invite you to check more post in our blog, you will find information about Patzcuaro and its surroundings that we hope will be useful for your next trip to our colonial town in Mexico.
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