Western Mexico is one of the lesser known cultural regions and on which conflicting opinions predominate. But if there is an attraction that stands out in the area, it is The opeño. one of the sites archaeological most representative of the first peoples settled in Michoacan. It is a village territory located in the current municipality of Jacona. Their tombs and funerary offerings are the oldest known in the Occident.
What is the El Opeño complex?
This space is made up of old shaft tombs. which were underground chambers covered by vaults, dug into the subsoil and accessed by stairs. Inside them the deceased were deposited to later seal the entrance with huge flagstones.
The tombs and funerary offerings of the opeño They are the oldest that have been discovered in the West.
particularities of culture
- chupicuaro It is the best known site of the preclassic in the west of Mexicoalso called period Late Formative (500 BC-0). Its inhabitants lived in simple bajareque houses covered with stone. Unfortunately, the construction of the solis dam caused the flood and covered ethe archaeological heritage from the area.
- The enclosure was used to bury the members of the pre-Hispanic community of different ranks, this finding demonstrates the antiquity of the tradition of tombs in western Mexico and that it spread throughout the territory of Mexico.
- Despite its age, it was barely 40 years ago that the name of the opeño to the archaeological zone of Michoacán.
- It is an archaeological area of shaft tombs dating back to 1,300 BC Explore the curutaran hill It is an unforgettable experience for lovers of history and archeology.
- The offerings that accompanied the burials have provided significant information for local and regional archaeology, both due to their presence and temporality, as well as their cultural, decorative and technical characteristics.
- The pottery found in the opeño it is particularly attractive. Globular pots with divergent necks were found, as well as hemispherical bowls or tripods. This pottery was decorated with red, cherry or black colors, delimited by incised or punched lines.
Where is El Opeño located?
Xacona (currently Jacona) was established in a region chichimeca, tecuexe. bordered the kingdom purepecha (the misnamed “tarascan“), this explains why neighboring localities have names porhepeni. An example of this is the curutaran hill.
Jacona It is a beautiful municipality full of history on the northern slope of the Sierra de patamban. This forms part of the transversal Volcanic axis and is located at an altitude of 1,577 meters. In turn, it is also characterized for being one of the first prehispanic peoples entrusted to the Spanish.
The city, as we know it today, was founded by Fray Sebastian de Trasierra in 1555. However, their mystical appeal lies in the fact that they have been located buildings and cave paintings of over 3000 years old.
How to get to Jacona Michoacán?
From the city of Morelia, the route consists of 2 hours and 22 minutes (193.3 kilometers) through Atlacomulco – Guadalajara/Carr. Guadalajara – Morelia/Zinapecuaro – Guadalajara/Mexico 15D
The most accessible way to go from Morelia a Jacona of Plancarte It is by bus, which has a cost between $200 – $340 and lasts 2 hours. There is another bus that takes you directly to this destination, leaves from Morelia and also goes through Zamora. Services leave every hour and operate every day.
If you visit El Opeño in Jacona, you can also enjoy the following activities:
- Dive into the orandino lakeand enjoy the cold water springs available in the area.
- If you like tourism related to archeology and history, in addition to going up the curutaran hill and get to know the shaft tombs, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit the Old Townan area where there are paintings ancient.
- If you go during the month of Februaryyou can take advantage to enjoy the Strawberry Fair. An annual gastronomic event as sweet as it is fun.