Valley of the The Throat Cutters

Valley of the The Throat Cutters

Photography by Bill Bell and Larry Baron

Valley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photographs

Bill, Dylan and Dot Bell in the Valley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit,Larry Baron Photograph

The Altavista petroglyph complex is located near the village and beach-town of Chacala, south of the Compostela Municipality, in Nayarit Mexico. 

Valley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographsValley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photographs

Valley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographsValley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photographs

Valley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographsValley of the Throat cutters, on the road to Alta vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photographs

The area is known as “La Pila del Rey”, “Chacalán”, “El Santuario”, “The Petroglyphs” or “the Altavista petroglyphs”, near the Jaltemba Bay, in the Pacific Ocean of Nayarit

This region was originally home to the largely unstudied Tecoxquin (Tequectequi) native culture dating from approximately 2000 BC to 2300 BCE. It contains 56 petroglyphs whose antiquity cannot be accurately determined. Aside from its cultural and archeological importance, the site remains an important religious center for the Huicholes who still leave offerings and perform ceremonies here.

In prehispanic times, the Compostela municipality area was inhabited by the Mazatán peoples, tributary of Xalisco-Zacualpan Kingdom

 

 

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

 

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph\Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

Valley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell PhotographValley of the Throat Cutters, where you can find ancient 2000 year old petroglyphs on the road to Alta Vista, Nayarit, Bill Bell Photograph

To read an in-depth article on this wonderful historical site click here