History Overview

The history of Chupícuaro begins with the migration of humans into the modern-day Acámbaro area. Central Mexico was first settled in 8000 - 7000 BC (Weaver 6). Pottery appears much later, around 2000 BC (6). As Central Mexico became highly populated, the ease of travel along the Lerma River may have prompted migration from West or Central Mexico, establishing the first inhabitants of Chupícuaro (8, 11). From its earliest occupation in the Late Pre-Classic or Early Classic, early inhabitants of Chupícuaro had knowledge of techniques for modeling, decorating, and firing vessels and figurines, suggesting that they brought these skills with them from their place of origin, rather than developing them on the site (8). Both Chupícuaro and Central Mexico produced blackware ceramics and a stylistically similar figurines (8). In general, there was homogeneity of culture throughout Central Mexico during the Late Pre-Classic that makes migration and cultural centers difficult to locate (8). Chupícuaro did not diverge from this until after the Late Pre-Classic, after which they continued to maintain and refine the Red on Buff ceramic tradition common to many parts of Mexico in its earlier periods (8). At the time of this shift, Cuicuilco, not Teotihuacán, was the most important center in the Valley of Mexico (8). Chupícuaro had significant economic relations and stylistic influence on this city-center, perhaps providing the original migrants who settled Cuicuilco (Weaver 8; McBride 34).

The zenith of Chupicuaro society, during which the most monumental architecture was build and the most recognizable artifacts produced, lasted from approximately 400 – 100 BC (“Autoridades” 2). The reason for Chupícuaro’s decline is unclear. Darras and Faugère suggest gradual flooding of the valley through instabilities in the river flow system, exacerbated by earthquake and volcanic eruption (Darras and Faugère, “Chupícuaro”, par. 20). The region was not wholly abandoned with the decline of Chupícuaro. In the excavation levels above the last Chupícuaro artifacts, Toltec artifacts were found (Porter 523). By the Spanish Conquest, the Acámbaro was home to the Tarascans (521).