Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – The large ancient fire pits discovered at La Quemada, an archaeological site in Zacatecas, Mexico, are intriguing for several reasons. Although the exact purpose and method of their use remain uncertain, there are some fascinating theories. One such theory proposes that these fire pits may have served as giant torches to illuminate nighttime ceremonies.
Ruins at La Quemada. JavierDo – CC BY-SA 3.0, Huitzilopochtli, the patron god of the Mexica, Public Domain. Image compilation AncientPages.com
Was La Quemada The Birthplace Of The Aztecs?
La Quemada, meaning ‘The Burning,’ is an intriguing ancient site rich in mystery and history. Named by the Spanish upon their arrival due to the numerous fire remnants possibly linked to its abandonment, its original name remains unknown. Some suggest it could be Chicomóztoc, or ‘Place of the Seven Caves,’ a mythical origin site for the Mexica Aztecs and other Nahuatl-speaking peoples.
La Quemada is uniquely situated on a hillside, unlike most major Mesoamerican ceremonial centers. The ancient inhabitants of Malpaso Valley demonstrated advanced construction techniques by covering the hill with high-engineering structures. The ceremonial center features residential complexes, temples, sunken patios, ball courts, pyramids, terraces, and platforms interconnected by impressive causeways and staircases.
Remains of the Votive Pyramid at la Quemada. Credit: Marisol Narváez Quiroz – CC BY-SA 3.0
Among these structures stands the Votive Pyramid—a significant edifice due to its size and central location within the city—suggesting it was dedicated to a main deity through offerings, dances, and sacrifices. This pyramid played a crucial role in religious activities as indicated by its designation as “votive,” reflecting its purpose in worship or devotion.
The reasons behind La Quemada’s decline remain elusive, yet researchers have established that the site was occupied from at least 400 to 1200 AD. This timeline overlaps with several Mesoamerican civilizations located further south. Some scholars propose that La Quemada may have originated as a northern outpost of Teotihuacan. However, it flourished for centuries after Teotihuacan’s fall, raising questions about who sustained its occupation.
Another theory suggests a connection with the Toltecs, a prominent Central Mexican empire that emerged around the 10th century. There are architectural similarities between La Quemada and Toltec structures, such as the Hall of Columns. Nonetheless, these parallels do not clarify who initially founded La Quemada or why its overall design and architectural style are unique.
Most of Mexico’s major civilizations developed in what is now known as Mesoamerica—a historical region home to cultures like the Olmecs, Mayans, Toltecs, and Aztecs. In contrast, Zacatecas is located just beyond this area in a region predominantly inhabited by semi-nomadic Chichimecas. Could it be possible that La Quemada was an unusual settlement established by the Chichimecas despite their primarily nomadic lifestyle?
Mysterious Giant Fire Pits
Scientists have recently conducted an archaeomagnetic survey at the La Quemada archaeological site, focusing on a series of fire pits through comprehensive rock-magnetic and archaeomagnetic experiments. Archaeomagnetism relies on the principle that rocks heated to high temperatures retain a magnetic fingerprint, capturing the Earth’s magnetic field orientation at that time. By examining this fingerprint, researchers can estimate when the fire occurred.
A) The aerial photograph showcases the La Quemada fire pits, where five excavated structures were analyzed in this study. B) This is complemented by a view on a Digital Elevation Model, providing further context. C) and D) depict typical views of the studied fire pits, which are composed of basal rhyolitic rocks. Credit: A. Goguitchaichvili et al.
Located near the Votive Pyramid are eleven pits measuring about 2 meters in diameter and 90 cm deep. These pits were filled with ash and charcoal remains but contained minimal pottery fragments or tools, suggesting they were not used for cooking; however, their exact function is still unknown.
The study examined samples from burned rocks in five pits, labeled LQ1 to LQ5. The results reveal that Pit LQ1, located near the Votive Pyramid, was active between 927 and 1100 CE—a timeframe associated with the site’s decline. In contrast, Pits LQ4 and LQ5 date back to between 675 and 900 CE when the city was flourishing. Although data from Pit LQ2 were ambiguous, it is estimated to originate from as early as the 6th–7th centuries CE. Despite these insights, the exact purpose of these large fire pits remains unclear and continues to be a topic of debate among researchers.
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The researchers note that due to their shallow depth and lack of pottery fragments, it is unlikely these pits were used for ceramic production or food preparation; however, further analysis on this latter hypothesis is suggested. An alternative hypothesis proposes that these pits might have served as giant torches for ritual ceremonies marking transitions such as sunrise at the winter solstice or seasonal changes between rainy and dry periods.
According to researchers, the fires in these pits may have preserved the site’s memory even after its decline into ruins.
The study was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer