Zona Arqueológica La Quemada
By the time the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, this ancient city was already a ruin. The site's original name, Chicomostoc, means "place of the seven tribes." It was previously believed that seven different cultures had occupied the area, each one building atop the other's city. Debate continues as to whether the inhabitants of the area were related to the Mesoamericans (who occupied what is today central Mexico through northern Central America) or the indigenous cultures of what is now the southwestern United States. The site consists of the ruins of a ceremonial pyramid and a ball court; the principal draw is the rose-colored Salón de las Columnas, containing 11 massive round columns built of the same small slabs of rock. Interesting artifacts are housed in the site's impressive museum. To get here, take a bus toward Villanueva, get off at the entrance to La Quemada, and walk 3 km (2 miles). The bus ride takes about an hour and involves a long walk. Most visitors find it easier to take a taxi or guided tour out of Zacatecas.
