Paquime

Paquime (Casas Grandes) is a major prehistoric settlement in Chihuahua, Mexico, attributed to the Mogollon culture and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Flourishing from c. 1200-1450 AD, the city contained approximately 2,000 rooms in multi-storied adobe structures up to 12 meters high, with advanced water management systems including underground reservoirs and sewage networks. It served as a key trade hub linking Pueblo cultures of the American Southwest with Mesoamerica, evidenced by copper bells, marine shells, and scarlet macaw remains. The site also features I-shaped ball courts and a ceremonial mound shaped like a feathered serpent.