El Cóporo

It is estimated that they reached central Mexico in the 12th century CE, causing natural displacement of several groups, including the Otomies and Tecuexe.[6]

It is commonly thought that the chichimecas were uncultivated, simple nomadic people without organization, and occasionally made raids in the Otomi and Purépecha regions.[6]

The Spanish invaders, after the conquest of Tenochtitlan, never imagined that it would take them more than two centuries to conquer northern Mexico, a region known as Aridoamerica. Several Chichimeca (uncivil and dirty dog) groups inhabited the regions. This name was given because of the thought that they had a lower cultural level, compared to other native cultures of Mesoamerica.[7]

Four major Chichimeca Nations were Pames, Guamare, Zacateco and Guachichiles, these last two unlike the Tecuexe, Caxcans and the other two groups had a lower cultural level, because others had altars and knew agriculture.[7]

However, the chichimecas managed to build temples-fortress, ballgame courts, developed pottery, painting (petroglyphs), etc. all this in harsh conditions, in an arid area where rainfall is scarce and the climate is variable.[7] In this region the predominant Chichimeca nation were the Guachichiles, the most warrior group. Their operations center was “Tunal el Grande”, served as refuge shelter and food source.[6] The Guachichiles were known to paint their bodies, hair, and faces in red dye. For this reason they were called "guachichile" by the Mexica, meaning "heads painted red".

Religion was practiced in civic-religious centers, performed by priests, witches or sorcerers who were called “madai cojoo”, which means big sorcerer; usually these ceremonial centers or worship places (cues), were on the slopes of mountains or high places. Apart from the Sun and the Moon, had no fixed gods, these could be stone one day and the next a different figure or symbol.[7]

"Chichimeca" was generically, equivalent to barbarian or savage. However, the term has different interpretations: for example, Alva Ixtlilxóchitl mentions that in their language it meant Eagles, for others it means sucking, the chichi verb mean to breastfeed, and according to Torquemada this name were given because they sucked blood from animals which they hunted. As well as these, there are other meanings; chichic (bitter), chichi (dog), etc.; others propose that chichimeca means people who live in chichiman and chichiman is understood as a place of dogs.[7]

Also, Chichimeca was the name that the Nahua peoples of Mexico generically applied to a wide range of semi-nomadic peoples who inhabited the north of modern-day Mexico and southwestern United States, and carried the same sense as the European term "barbarian".

Roads have personality, because of the sites and conditions found in its path, as well as by destinations and their functions.[7]

As it is known, there were trade routes across the Mesoamerican region, and is also known that there were mines with minerals and semi-precious stones, with a trade area which probably began in the United States South, passed through the center of Mexico and reached venues as remote as Nicaragua and Costa Rica in Central America. It is very possible that these routes passed through this site.

Conjunto Cóporo is located at the top of the Hill, is a ceremonial zone, Acropolis style.[8]

In this group and Gotas, human burials were found. Most outstanding of these findings has been the pigmentation with several black layers found in the skeletons, presupposes the existence of worship rituals of their dead.[8]

This Conjunto is located on the skirts of the hill, it is a civic-administrative space.[8]

Recent excavations have identified the building as a housing residential unit, from wood remains found, used as columns to support a roof. Carbon-14 dating analysis of these remains provided a date of 500 to 900 CE.[8]

This Conjunto, is a residential zone.[8]

This Conjunto appear to also be a residential area, has defensive elements as dirt-stone fences.[8]

The Conjunto is located in the lower part, there are various public and domestic areas as well as workshops.[8]

It is likely that the gravel road at this conjunto was access for pilgrims to the sacred places at the site.[8]

This plaza will remain in its original conditions with some excavations and boreholes to demonstrate how it was found.[9]

It is part of Conjunto Gotas, has been released and consolidated one 100 percent. Has a 5,000 square meters extension, consists of four platforms, the east and north have the most important structures.[9]

It is surrounded by a slope made from stone and adobe, covered with masonry; It has a stairway that leads to a corridor that heads to a hall, with 20 wooden columns arranged in three rows, feature that makes the site unique throughout the region.[9]

These 20 columns probably refer to Mesoamerican calendars, that have equal number of days. Accesses and facades are oriented towards the west, probably its inhabitants made astronomical observations, and linked the ceremonies with the solar cycle.[9]

At the back of the hall is another stairway to a second level, where there is a small corridor with a small lounge and 10 columns around a central atrium.

It has a long and wide base stone made with three structures, the center is known as the Palace, has a stairway and a room with four columns oriented towards the south, which reminds a pitched (gabled) roof.[9]

To the sides of the Palace, are access stairs to another level with their respective lounge and columns, the room probably was a civic or administrative space.

These completely surround Plaza 2, have much smaller dimensions, and comprise rooms divided by adobe walls and some stoves that suggest that it would be the kitchen for great ceremonies.[9]