A team of archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) discovered an ancient village that had remained hidden for more than 300 years, located a few meters from the historic Cocóspera Mission, one of the most emblematic sites of the Jesuit period in northern Mexico.
The discovery represents a significant advance for archaeological research in Sonora, as it will allow for a deeper understanding of the history of the Indigenous communities that inhabited the region before and during the establishment of the mission system.
According to INAH, the village corresponds to a settlement of the Pima Himeri, an Indigenous people who inhabited this area of what is now the state of Sonora.
The specialists believe that the remains will allow them to reconstruct aspects of the daily life of these communities, as well as understand the processes of resistance, adaptation, and cultural transformation resulting from the arrival of the Jesuit missionaries.
The village was located very near the Cocóspera Mission, founded in the 17th century by the Jesuit Eusebio Francisco Kino, a key figure in the evangelization and exploration of northwestern New Spain.
Archaeologists noted that the discovery offers new evidence for studying the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the mission system established in the region.
In addition to providing information about the social and cultural organization of the Pima Himeris, the site will contribute to expanding knowledge about the history of northern Mexico and the changes that occurred during the colonial period.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) emphasized that the find will also strengthen conservation and protection efforts for archaeological heritage in Sonora.
Investigations will continue in the area to document the remains found and generate new information that will help preserve the historical memory of the communities that inhabited this region more than three centuries ago.
Source: tribuna
