CAÑADA de la VIRGEN
At this site near the historic city of San Miguel de Allende a group of Americans spent the day learning about a pyramid culture that flourished from about 450 AD to around 1000 AD. At the archialogical excavation, archeologist Gabrielle Zepeda, led the group through the dig and explained what they have been able to learn in the last three years of exploration. Below are some of the pictures that I took that day. (September 14, 2005)
This art work is being done on the side of the new visitors building that is still under construction. Broken pieces of pottery that have been cataloged and photographed are used to create this symbol of the sun. When completed this will the checking in point for tourists when they come to visit this exciting site. The design of the center is based on the design of buildings that have been excavated in the area and 90% of the building is built with local mateirals. The exceptions 
are the pine beams and the use of portland cement for the floor. All of the stone are set using locally made morter.
The orientation of the pyramid is to the rising sun. As the sun is at it's northern most point the rays strike the entry stones at the top of the first stairway shown below and angle to the south west of the main pyramid where they shine directly on another smaller pyramid. When the sun rises at it's southern most point it strikes a small pyramid to the north west of the main pyramid. At the exact mid point the rays of the rising sun shorn directly onto the central pyramid.
the first flight of stairs ---------------Manja Argue--------------------at the top of the stairs my first view of pyamid
lunch with the crew..........................site B at ground level..........................site B from top of main pyramid
south side of main pyramid...............more of south side..........................Head archeologist, Gabriella Zepeda
after climbing over the first steps.....view of pyramid from countyard..........the whole group before climbing
view of north side of courtyard from the top....................view of outside north side from top
This is the only painted mural found so far. It was painted at the third level of the top and then when work begin on the fourth level of building it was partially blocked off by the new floor and walls. The fourth level was never completed as the site was abandoned. It is not known why the site was abandoned, perhaps invasion from northern tribes or from drought and famine.