During 1,000 years in Western Mexico the agricultural towns distinguished themselves by their magic and mysterious burials. They were known for their tombs (tumbas de tiro) and their influence is found in the states of Nayarit, Colima, Jalisco, Michoacan and Zacatecas. During this long time, they exchanged activities with other cultures. From what we know today, they navigated the coasts all the way to Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. This time frame was between 300 B.C. and 700 A.D.
The Los Toriles Ruins are located about 2 miles from the town of Ixtlan Del Rio (2.5 hours from Puerto Vallarta) in Nayarit. They are also commonly called the Ruins of Ixtlan Del Rio or the Ixtlan Del Rio Ruins. They are the only mesoamerican civilization ruins in the western part of Mexico that are this far north, without just being ceremonial or burial grounds. The main attraction of this archaeological zone is the round shaped temple that was built for Ehecatl Quetzalcoatl, the god of the wind. Also this site features “Tiros de Tumba”, which are shaft tombs. The Western Mexico shaft tombs are characterized by a vertical or nearly vertical shaft, dug 3 to 20 metres down into what is often underlying volcanic tuff. The base of the shaft opens into one or two (occasionally more) horizontal chambers, perhaps 4 by 4 metres (varying considerably), with a low ceiling. The shaft tombs were often associated with an overlying building.
Multiple burials are found in each chamber and evidence indicates that the tombs were used for families or lineages over time.[11] The labor involved in the creation of the shaft tombs along with the number and quality of the grave goods indicate that the tombs were used exclusively by the society’s elites,[12] and demonstrate that the shaft tomb cultures were highly stratified at this early date. This civilization buried the dead in tombs that were uniquely shaped. They dug holes and then buried them to the side of the holes. At this site you can go down and see some of the examples of the tombs.
Unfortunately, in the latter part of 2006 thieves broke into this section and then looted the tombs of their artifacts and skeletons. There is a thriving black market, especially in Europe for people that purchase these rare and original artifacts from the Meso-American civilizations.
According to the INAH (Mexico’s National History Institute), systematic research at Los Toriles began in 1947. Archaeologist Jose Corona Nunez excavated and restored some of the mounds that are on the Los Toriles grounds. This work was completed two years later after three field seasons, during which time looting in some shaft tombs was also reported. The site is from the Early Post Classical period around 900 to 1300 A.D. The constructions of the site show influence from the Toltecs. Restoration work on the structures at the site continued in Ixtlan under archaeologist Eduardo Contreras. He restored the south section of the official archaeological zone in 1967. It was during that field season that the archaeologist Rodolfo Castro, scouring the whole site, took samplings of material and located the mounds using the grid reference method. Castro reported 77 mounds in the area. It is believe that the site had a dense population, especially to the north of the ceremonial center. This is based on the amount of household litter that was found during excavations.
The temple for the wind god, Ehecatl / Quetzalcoatl it is known as the Round Pyramid which is the archaeological zone’s landmark. It’s one of the most beautiful buildings of the pre-hispanic architecture in Western Mexico. The round monument measures 80 feet in diameter and is over 13 feet high. It was originally a filled in cylinder or drum whose vertical walls were crowned by a parapet with cross shaped openings, with five stairways. On the top of the structure, it has two rectangular shrines.The site is open everyday rom 9 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The price is 30 pesos for entry. Senior Citizens (Older than 60 years), Children (younger than 13 years), handicapped people, retired people, students and professors do not need to pay admission. Entry on Sundays is free.
The site has a small museum that gives details on the Tiros de Tumba and examples of how the people dressed. There are examples of artifacts from the civilization, these artifacts are located outside behind glassed windows.
