Archaeological Research by Alberto Aveleyra
Cañada de la Virgen Research
Discover how Anthropologist Alberto Aveleyra has connected the sacred pyramid site of Cañada de la Virgen in San Miguel de Allende to Chicomoztoc — the legendary Nahua place of the Seven Caves.
Research Summary
In 2016, Alberto Aveleyra began a long-term research project at the Cañada de la Virgen archaeological site in San Miguel de Allende. His goal was to reconstruct the pre-Hispanic landscape of pilgrimage by mapping access routes, studying ethnohistorical sources, and comparing them with archaeological evidence. What emerged from this multi-year study was a surprising and compelling connection between San Miguel’s pyramid site and one of the most important sacred stories
of Mesoamerica: Chicomoztoc, “the place of the Seven Caves.”
According to Nahua and other Mesoamerican sources, Chicomoztoc was the origin place of peoples, where ancestral groups emerged to begin their migrations. More than 80 indigenous accounts describe this place as consisting of caves, ravines, or precipices, often associated with ritual birth and renewal. Scholars have long debated whether Chicomoztoc was purely symbolic, a shared idea across multiple cultures, or a reference to an actual location. Alberto’s research brings new evidence to the discussion.
During extensive fieldwork between 2018 and 2020, Alberto traced the processional routes that would have led pilgrims into Cañada de la Virgen. He documented that the main entry to the site passes through seven natural canyons, an extraordinary parallel to the descriptions of Chicomoztoc. Alongside this landscape evidence, archival research revealed colonial-era murals at a nearby chapel depicting the glyph of Colhuacan Chicomoztoc — the dual name associated with origin, ancestry, and ritual caves.
This correlation between ethnohistorical sources, physical geography, and material remains strengthens the argument that Cañada de la Virgen was understood by its builders as a place of origin and ritual renewal. Two elite female burials discovered at the site add another layer: the presence of revered “ancestors” aligns with Nahua traditions of ancestry tied to the name "Colhuacan" that is translated as "The place where they have ancestors"
Alberto has published this research in government publications of Guanajuato (2022) and in the famous mexican journal Arqueología Mexicana (2024), placing San Miguel de Allende at the center of a broader conversation about Mesoamerican origins. His work is not only academic but also public-facing: elements of this research are presented in the Izcuinapan Hall of the Casa de Allende Museum, offering locals and visitors a more complete narrative of San Miguel’s pre-Hispanic past.
This research demonstrates that Cañada de la Virgen is more than an isolated archaeological site. It may represent one of the most significant pilgrimage landscapes of ancient Mexico, where geography, myth, and ritual converged to create meaning. By situating the site within the framework of Chicomoztoc´s sacred stories, Alberto’s work invites us to rethink the origins of cultural identity in Mesoamerica.
Key Findings
- Pilgrimage Landscape: The Seven Canyons served as symbolic thresholds for ritual processions.
- Archaeological Confirmation: Evidence of ancient burials aligns with Nahua descriptions of ancestral veneration.
- Dual Naming: Colonial-era murals depict glyphs linking the site to Colhuacan Chicomoztoc.
- Published Work: Research presented in Arqueología Mexicana (2024), government publications and the Izcuinapan Hall.
References & Publications
Cañada de la Virgen
Colonial mural painting with the indigenous hieroglyphs for Colhuacan (Bent Hill) "The Place where they have ancestors" and Chicomoztoc (the central image) #The Place of the Seven Caves/Precipices. Located in the access of the Seven Canyons.
Cañada de la Virgen
Map of the ceremonial route of access to Cañada de la Virgen sanctuary through the Seven Canyons microwatershed.
San Miguel Archaeological Map
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Join Alberto’s research journey — explore the site through his studies or book a tour to walk the ancient pilgrimage routes yourself.
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