Huápoca is an archaeological site located 36 kilometers West of Ciudad Madera in the Huápoca Canyon region, which is Northwest of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The Huápoca region's notable geographic features with access to the archaeological sites include the Rio Papigochi, the Aguila and Serpiente caves, the Huápoca Spa, and the Huápoca bridge. There are approximately 150 archaeological sites scattered across the cliffs of the Madera region. Most of them are in varying states of repair, with some damage caused by several factors, including lack of attention, care, and surveillance. Adobe floors are broken in several places and walls, even those with old glyphs, are damaged with graffiti.
First regional investigations In 1898, Norwegian explorer Darl Lumholtz provided first information about caves in the Madera region in the North of Sierra Tarahumara. Lumholtz discovered several sites, among them Cueva del Garabato (now known as Cuarenta Casas). Subsequently, several anthropologists and archaeologists briefly explored the region, focusing especially on the outskirts of Cuarenta Casas. Although almost all of them published the results of their studies,little is known about the caves as exploration and systematic study are still not extensive. Explorers of the region included H.A. Carey in 1931, E.B. Sayles in 1936, A.V. Kidder in 1939, R.H. Lister in 1946 and 1958, Eduardo Contreras in 1959, Arturo Guevara in 1986, and David Pearson, Fernando Sánchez M. and D. Phillips in 1990.
Madera Zone Madera was a sawmill that processed lumber extracted from the forests nearby. Its greatest attractions are the ancient caves around the region, which served as rooms and shelters for inhabitants of the Paquimé culture. There are several Paquimé archaeological zones in the area of the Madera municipality. The most important caves are:
Cueva Grande Located 66 kilometers west of Madera, Cueva Grande hides a waterfall which flows from the top of the cave to a stream. There are two double-story houses (800 years old) that serve as prime examples of the native construction techniques. There is also a round grain storage area behind the structure.
La Ranchería La Cueva La Ranchería was a residential complex. Larger than Cuarenta Casas, it is 50 meters long by 20 meters wide. There are also granaries (Cuexcomate) - somewhat damaged - made from adobe and straw, wherein maize was stored.
Cueva del Puente Located 45 kilometers north of Madera.
Cuarenta Casas Cuevas El Garabato or Cueva de Las Ventanas, also known as Cuarenta Casas, was built between 1060 and 1205 CE. It was a residential complex of the Paquimé culture inhabitants. This complex (located in the Garabato Creek) has a large quantity of constructions as well as a large cave, guarded by a small waterfall.
Cueva de la Momia
The mummified body of an adult male, surrounded by offerings such as ceramics, stone utensils, stems, and tender corn cobs (olotes), was found inside the cave. The mummy is now in the Capitan Leal Museum in Ciudad Madera. Its conservation condition is excellent. It is believed that the cave, located very near the Barranca Arroyo del Venado, had more mummies in good condition, but had been destroyed by irresponsible visitors. The cave is divided into two levels, and the second level has more than ten rooms in optimal conditions.
Cueva de las Jarillas
Cueva de las Jarillas is one of the largest housing caves in the Madera region in Chihuahua. It has more than 20 rooms and a Cuexcomate.
New Discoveries In one of the Rio Papigochi side canyons, southwest of Madera, is a complex that was inhabited by ancient communities who built homes in the caves and rock shelters. These sites are so safe that, to date, they are virtually intact. None of these caves can be easily seen from outside the canyon.
Cueva de los Fierros Cueva de los Fierros is located in the middle of the canyon slope in an almost vertical wall. Its size is about 30 m and has a complex of at least 10 adobe rooms, some of them in two floors. The whole has a foundation base on which the rooms were built. The windows are "T" shape, which was typical of Paquimé culture. Almost all the rooms are partially destroyed, though there are ceilings that still preserve the original wooden structure. Inside,some stone tools such as scrapers, knives, grindstones, fragments of pottery and other objects which could not be identified were found. There were many olotes (corn cobs) found, evidence of corn consumptions and storage.
Cueva de la Puerta Located a few hundred meters from the first cave, Cueva de la Puerta is found in the middle of the canyon wall. It measures around 25 m and presents vestiges of approximately 12 rooms or enclosures. Vandals or treasure hunters have partially destroyed floors and walls. For construction, braided rods and branches of local trees were used, mainly tascar (local species of Juniper) and Fraxinus. The builders shaped the adobe walls using the braids. The braids are well preserved and the fibers used to fasten them remain attached. There are two types of fastening: one made with "palmilla" fiber (a species of Century Plant or agave) and the other with a tree branch called "sawarique". In one of the rooms, the original floor can be seen, made from adobe so well and smooth finished that it looks like cement. The roof and walls of the rooms are black, likely due to the accumulation of soot and smoke from fires that were lit there throughout hundreds of years. There is another cave in the opposite side of the canyon, which is smaller with only three rooms and well preserved. Half a kilometer above is a small cave with a house in pristine condition. With an excellent view of the Canyon, this site was likely an observation or surveillance point.
Cultural background
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