Contrary to what was previously thought, since the time of Crist in the western part of Mexico there was a pre-Hispanic civilization whose development and cultural complexity dominated the central valleys of the present day state of Jalisco.
The main characteristic that distinguishes the Teuchitlàn Tradition from the rest of the cultures of Mesoamèrica is its unusual architectural style, defined by ceremonial centers in the form of concentric circles that today we call Guachimontones.
The name Guachimontones comes from the nàhuatl word Huaxe (gourd) and the Spanish word montòn (pile); this it could be translated as a pile of gourds.
The largeste pre-Hispanic ruin in the state of Jalisco is located on the highest part of the hill nex to Teuchitlàn.
It flourished around the year 300 B.C. and had its heyday from 200 to 400 D.C. during the Classic Period. The precint has ten circular buildings, two ball courts, rectangular plazas, residential units and cultivated terraces that where built more than 2,000 years ago.
The monumental buidings called Guachimontones are made up of four sections that included a circular altar with staircases, surrounded by a patio, and closed in with a banquette that is the base for varios platforms.
These concentric circles with aforementioned characteristics represent Jalisco's unique contribution to the world's architectural repertoire.
The monumental circles in the ruins are associated with the ball games and one of the circles is the biggest in all Mesoamèrica.
The samll pyramids had poles for the ritual of the "volador" (flyer) ceremonies that are represented in the clay models typical of the western Mexican cultures. The figure of the god Ehècatl (god of the wind, also present in Teotihuacàn) stands out among the figures that have been found. The monumental circles are associated with the ball-courts, and one of them circles is one the biggest in all of Mesoamèrica.
In the areas surrounding Teuchitlàn there are also a great number of artifacts made of obsidian, a material that was utilized for the production of art pieces during the pre-Hispanic era. It was amply used in the production of tools during the period of the Guachimontones.
The geometry of the circular ruins follows principles of a cosmological nature. They are built in relationship to the four directions and they maintain a vertical axis that connects the sky, earth and trere are markers indicating the sun's position during the solstice and equinox.
The particular style of the Guachimontones had a cosmovision that is understood by and shared among all the people of Mesoamèrica.
