Introduction
Chupícuaro[1] is an archaeological site that straddles the border between Central and West Mexico (Frierman ix; Porter 5). Chupícuaro is well known for its ceramics, distinctive features of which include striking polychrome (red, black, and buff) geometric patterns, tall “spider-leg” tripod bowls, and figurines (Porter 544, 571) . Excavation of the area and resulting archaeological knowledge has been limited. Instead, Chupícuaro artifacts have entered archaeological knowledge through private collections after arriving there as a popular target of looting (Porter 521-522, 538). The lack of context of Chupícuaro artifacts in private collections provides archaeologists with little information towards an understanding of Chupícuaro life and beliefs (Porter 538).
Only one full-scale excavation of the original Chupícuaro site was conducted before the site was flooded (Darras and Faugère, “Proyecto” 2). This consisted of the excavation of nearly 400 burials, containing over 1,300 ceramic vessels (Darras and Faugère, “Chupícuaro”, footnote 2). The area was subsequently flooded by the construction of the Solís Dam on the Lerma River (Porter 584; Weaver 5), dampening any further attempts at excavation in search of the housing sites that would provide essential information about everyday life. Later excavation by Darras and Faugère focused on other sites within the larger Lerma River valley (Darass and Faugère, “Proyecto” and “Chupícuaro”; “Autoridades”). Despite limitations of only two large-scale archaeological excavations, it is possible to reconstruct Chupícuaro lifeways through the interpretation of the available lines of direct and indirect archaeological evidence.
[1] Pronounced [choo-PEE-kwar-oh]