Archaeologists in Mexico have identified two Indigenous settlements that remained inhabited after the Spanish conquest, shedding new light on the survival of native communities during the early colonial period.
The discoveries were made in the Costa Grande region of Guerrero by specialists from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) during archaeological surveys linked to the planned expansion of the Pátzcuaro–Lázaro Cárdenas highway.
The two sites, identified as Camutla and Sacualpan, were occupied during the Late Postclassic period and continued to be inhabited after the arrival of the Spanish, surviving until the end of the 16th century before eventually being abandoned.
Mexico’s Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, said the findings demonstrate the importance of incorporating heritage protection into major infrastructure projects from the outset.
“This work shows that protecting cultural heritage must form part of the planning of public works from the very beginning,” she said. “Infrastructure development and the preservation of our history are responsibilities that must go hand in hand.”
The archaeological inspection was carried out between 25 and 30 March 2026 through ground surveys and drone mapping to assess whether road construction could affect previously undocumented archaeological remains.
Ancient settlement identified as Camutla
One of the newly recorded sites lies near the community of El Chico, also known as Capire, on a hill overlooking the La Unión River close to its outlet into the Pacific Ocean.
Archaeologists documented 39 structures spread across approximately eight hectares. Oral traditions identified the area as Camutla, a name that corresponds with references found in 16th-century historical records.
The settlement features a series of terraces, ceremonial spaces, retaining walls, residential areas and small stone stelae, some of which remain standing. Researchers believe the site dates from around AD 1200 through to the end of the 16th century.
Historical documents, including the Geographical Relations and the Ortelius Map, place the settlement of Camutla along the lower La Unión River, matching the location identified during the survey.
Sacualpan rediscovered
The second site, previously recorded under the name Los Ticuiches, has now been identified as the historic Tolimeca settlement of Sacualpan.
Its most prominent feature is a massive platform measuring approximately 160 metres by 110 metres. A second elongated platform forms an L-shaped complex alongside the main structure, while numerous residential mounds and concentrations of eroded red pottery surround the ceremonial centre.
Researchers say identifying both settlements provides valuable evidence of how Indigenous communities adapted during the turbulent decades following the Spanish conquest before many were abandoned as colonial authorities reorganised settlements and imposed new taxation systems under New Spain.
Before European contact, the Costa Grande region served as a frontier occupied by the Tolimecas and Chumbias and bordered territories inhabited by the Pantecos and Cuitlatecas. The area also came under the influence of both the Aztec Triple Alliance and the Purépecha Empire, creating distinctive settlement patterns unlike those found elsewhere along Guerrero’s Pacific coast.
Protecting archaeological heritage
The archaeological team also visited several sites, including La Parotita, El Huérfano, La Palanca, Los Metates, La Salada, Las Peñas, Las Arañas, Zorcua, Los Azufres. Four of these were close enough to the planned highway route to require special protection zones.
We are now working with INAH and local authorities in the conservation of archaeological remains.
Rodolfo Lobato Rodríguez, the archaeologist leading the inspection, said documenting and protecting archaeological sites was particularly important during infrastructure projects, not only to prevent damage but to recover information about extinct Indigenous communities.
The results of the survey will inform future decisions for the conservation and management of Mexico’s archaeological heritage, Miguel Pérez Negrete, who helped organize and monitor the survey, said.
The new settlements will help us to better understand the population patterns of western Mexico during one of the most radical and transformative periods in the country’s history, they said.
Sources : INAH
