Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán, Mexico — The Pacific Coast (and Central Highlands)
Tzintzuntzan: Space and Distribution
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, December 2, 2022
1. Tzintzuntzan: Space and Distribution Marker
Tzintzuntzan significa en Purépecha "Lugar de colibríes" o "Lugar del colibri mensajero.” Ubicado al este de la Cuenca de Lago de Pátzcuaro, sobre el cerro Yahuarato, es el asentamiento Tarasco más importante. Se constituye por una Gran Plataforma que mide más de 400 metros de largo y 250 metros de ancho. Este lugar fue una ciudad administrativa en donde se desarrollaban las funciones politico-religiosas, mientras que las actividades productivas y económicas se realizaban en los alrededores y en el lago.
El imperio Tarasco tuvo su mayor concentración en el actual Estado de Michoacán, pero también abarcó parte de los actuales Estados de Jalisco, Colima y Nayarit, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Guanajuato y el Estado de México. La fundación de ciudades y poblaciones estratégicamente localizadas en las cercanías de lagos y ríos, comunicó-distintas regiones con diferente tipo de clima y diversidad de floray fauna, enriqueciendo su dieta, economía y comercio, a la que se añadian productos y objetos del Océano Pacífico como pescado y conchas.
Los tarascos fueron una cultura guerrera y altamente desarrollada que tuvo la capacidad de mantener su territorio a salvo de las incursions de otros imperios cercanos, especialmente el mexica o azteca, que nunca logró conquistar estas ciudades.
Tsintsuntsani arhikuaristi p'urhepechajimbo chuparrosa, enka jaka, uaxastakata uanamukurhini japondarhu p´askuarhu anapu andantukuera juatarhu (yahuarhatu) jiministi enka tsi p´urhepechecha erekaptis kopekuarhu iatsikurhaspti t'amu ekuatse ka kastsikurhaspti tsimani ekuatse ka tembeni, arhi ireta k´erhispti jimini ukuarhentasïnti mamarhu jasï uandakuecha ka niraxiptis tumina jininarhi uanamukuni arhi japondarhu jimbo.
Tsi p¨urhepechecha jatsïsptis ka nekua echerhichani enjka tsi jurhamuanka p´ientani materhuechani enjka arhikuarika jalisku, colima, nayaritu, guerrerhu, Şinaloa, guanajuatu ka irheta k´erhi mexiku, tsï irhetecha exenantaka pimukurhini japondarhu ka iorhekuecha enjka nirhampka anchikuarini mamarhu ambe p'itamani itsïrhu eski kurhucha ka ut'ujsï.
Tsi p´urhepechecha njrhasti ma kunkuarhikua uarhipitiecha kanekua sesi k´esti ka isï uni kuajpeni arhini echerichani enjka uejkampka eukarhiani matherhu k´urhipuechani enjka arhikuarhika mexikecha ka astekecha nomeni uspti andani jucharhi irhetechani.
Tzintzuntzan: space and distribution
Tzintzuntzan means in Purépecha "Place of hummingbirds" or "Place of the hummingbird messenger." Located east of the Lake Patzcuaro Basin, on the Yahuarato hill, it is the most important Tarascan settlement. It consists of a Grand Platform that measures more than 400 meters long and 250 meters wide. This place was an administrative city where political-religious functions were developed, while productive and economic activities were carried out in the surroundings and on the lake.
The Tarascan empire had its greatest concentration in the current State of Michoacán, but also covered part of the current states of Jalisco, Colima and Nayarit, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Guanajuato and the State of Mexico. The foundation of cities and towns was strategically located in the vicinity of lakes and rivers, communicating the different regions with different types of climate and diversity of flora and fauna, enriching their diet, economy and trade, to which were added products and objects from the Pacific Ocean such as fish and shellfish.
The Tarascans were a warlike and highly developed culture that had the ability to keep their territory safe from the incursions of other nearby empires, especially the Mexica or Aztec, which never managed to conquer these cities.
Erected by Instituto
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 19° 37.466′ N, 101° 34.297′ W. Marker is in Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán. It can be reached from Avenida Las Yácatas, on the right when traveling west. The marker is on the grounds of the Tzintzuntzan Archeological Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tzintzuntzan MIC 58446, Mexico. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Western Mexico, in the Bajío, and on the Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, specifically in Mesoamerica, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, 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 marker: Tzintzuntzan: Politics and Government (within shouting distance of this marker); Architecture of Farmers and Petroglyphs of Hunters (within
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, December 2, 2022
2. Tzintzuntzan: Space and Distribution Marker
Note Lake Patzcuaro in the distance to the north.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2023, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 318 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 16, 2023, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
