El Pueblito in La Corregidora, Querétaro, Mexico — The Central Highlands (North America)

The Plaza of the Dancers

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, August 12, 2022

1. The Plaza of the Dancers Marker

Inscription.
Plaza de la DanzaEsta plaza es la más grande del centro ceremonial, mide 70 metros en sentido oriente a poniente y 120 metros de longitud de sur a norte. Es nombrada de esta manera debido a que hace algunos años en este espacio se realizaba la escenificación de la Muerte del Soldado y la Batalla del Moro, una danza tradicional de las fiestas de El Pueblito. Para su construcción fue necesario nivelar el terreno por medio de muros formando grandes cajones de piedra laja, rellenados con tierra y piedra. El único acceso a la plaza es por una escalinata construida en el muro de contención oriente, misma que se alinea con la escalinata oriente de la Pirámide en dirección al cerro Gordo.

Actualmente su aspecto es el de una plaza limpia, sin embargo en la época prehispánica era delimitada al sur por una amplia sala con columnas y a lo largo de ella había numerosos altares.

Pie de dibujos:
Vista aérea de la Pirámide, Plaza de la Danza y de las Esculturas

Ubicación de la Plaza de la Danza

Puntas de proyectil y hachas encontradas como ofrendas en la plaza

Santuario del Pueblito y Pirámide. Ajofrin 1764

English translation:
The Plaza of the DancersThis

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square is the largest of the ceremonial center. It measures 70 meters from east to west and 120 meters from south to north. Its name comes from the fact that this space has been used for many years to host the traditional dances of the “Death of the Soldier” and the “Battle of the Moor” that make up part of the annual festival of El Pueblito. For its construction it was necessary to level the ground by means of stone walls that formed large ‘boxes’ that were then filled with earth and stone. The only access to the square is a stairway built on the eastern containment wall, which is aligned with the eastern stairway of the Pyramid in the direction of the nearby Cerro Gordo (Fat or Large Hill).

Today, it looks like an unadorned plaza, however in the pre-Hispanic era it was delimited to the south by a wide series of rooms made out of columns. Along the series of rooms were numerous altars.

Captions:
An aerial view of the Pyramid, Plaza of the Dancers and of the Sculptures

Location of the Plaza of the Dancers

Projectile points and axes found as offerings in the plaza

The Sanctuary Church of El Pueblito and

The previous Plaza of the Dancers Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, July 23, 2017

2. The previous Plaza of the Dancers Marker

Pyramid. Ajofrin, 1764

Copyright 2017 HMdb.org, all rights reserved for the translation unless otherwise noted.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1764.

Location. 20° 33.083′ N, 100° 26.578′ W. Marker is in El Pueblito, Querétaro, in La Corregidora. It can be reached from Calle Hidalgo close to Camino al Cerrito, on the left when traveling north. The marker is directly east of the pyramid at El Cerrito Archaeological Site, towards the steps that lead up to the Plaza of the Dancers. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: El Pueblito QUE 76915, Mexico. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Mexico

and in the Bajío.

Globally, it is in North America,

specifically in Mesoamerica,

on the Ring of Fire,

and in the Western Hemisphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

a Spanish colony,

and the Aztec Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

The Plaza of the Dancers and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, March 3, 2019

3. The Plaza of the Dancers and Marker

The marker can be partially seen towards the right in this view behind two trash/recycling bins and underneath a tree.

marker: The "Little Fort" (within shouting distance of this marker); Platform and Pyramid (within shouting distance of this marker); The Plaza of the Sculptures (within shouting distance of this marker); The Building of the Four Altars (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Obsidian Altar (about 120 meters away); The Altar of the Skulls (about 120 meters away); The Earth and its Cosmic Paths (about 150 meters away); El Cerrito ("The Little Hill") (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Pueblito.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, July 23, 2017

4. The previous Plaza of the Dancers Marker

The pyramid of the El Cerrito site can be seen in the distance towards the west.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, July 23, 2017

5. The Plaza of the Dancers Marker

The plaza is here to the right in this view, in front of the pyramid at El Cerrito Archaeological Site.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 331 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 25, 2023, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on July 25, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 14, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5. submitted on July 25, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.