Xanamus and Petroglyphs: A Study of the Construction Techniques of the Tzintzuntzan Yácata Lining System

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Looking to the West: New insights into Postclassic Archaeology in Michoacán" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In the prehispanic city of Tzintzuntzan there are architectural elements that form the main ceremonial center of the last capital of the Tarascan Empire. The best known are the yácatas, monumental pyramids of a mixed plan built on the Great Platform, characteristics of the Purhépecha culture. Used by the Tarascan builders as a cladding system, the so-called xanamus are unique architectural elements due to their singularities and their arrangement on the exterior walls of the yácatas. The present work intends to address the xanamu as a characteristic cladding system of Tzintzuntzan architecture. Therefore, the objective is, firstly, to situate the xanamu in its constructive function within the Tzintzuntzan yácatas. Secondly, their intrinsic characteristics, their implementation on the walls of the yácatas, the process by which they were carved, and the possible tools used by the Purhépecha builders will be presented. Finally, a specific analysis of the xanamus petroglyphs will allow us to understand the motifs used and the techniques used to carve these engraved images.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Looking to the West: New insights into Postclassic Archaeology in Michoacán   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38569.0