Monumental Settlement -
Villanueva
This enormous settlement is the most relevant in north-central Mexico for its architecture.
The name of the archeological zone refers to the burnt remains found in the place when extracting stone.
The most impressive attractions are its ball game, a court in the traditional "I" shape and a pyramidal base, its votive pyramid, and the hall of columns, the largest roofed structure in all of Mesoamerica. There is also a network of pre-Hispanic roads that communicate with the smaller settlements around it, which manifest their power and control, circulating the taxes and resources that support the population.
The ancient inhabitants settled in the Malpaso Valley; the pre-Hispanic occupation occurred between 350/400 to 1150 of our era.
The archaeological zone is located 56 km south of the city of Zacatecas.
This place is the headquarters of the "Arqueología Sideral" experience, a guided and theatrical night tour that will make you see the stars like never before, won the recognition of the readers of México Desconocido magazine; in 2020 as "The Best Experience in an Archaeological Zone."