Angamuco facts for kids
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 Location in Mexico
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| Location |  Mexico |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 19°35′03″N 101°29′42″W / 19.5840293°N 101.4948909°W |
| History | |
| Founded | circa 900 CE |
| Cultures | Purépecha civilization |
Angamuco is the name of a very large ancient city. It was built by the Purépecha civilization in Mexico. Today, its ruins are hidden under plants near Lake Pátzcuaro. This amazing city was discovered in 2007.
In 2012, scientists used a special technology called LiDAR. LiDAR uses lasers to create detailed maps of the ground. This helps them see things hidden by trees. Using LiDAR, archaeologists found about 39,000 buildings at Angamuco. This is about the same number of buildings as in Manhattan!
Angamuco covered an area of about 25 square kilometers (about 10 square miles). This is less than half the size of Manhattan. Experts believe the city started around 900 CE. It was most important between 1000 and 1350 CE. During this time, over 100,000 people lived there. This made Angamuco the biggest city in western Mexico back then. It was even larger than Tzintzuntzan, which was the capital city of the Purépecha people.
Contents
Discovering Angamuco
How Angamuco Was Found
Angamuco was first found in 2007. It was a big discovery for archaeologists. The city's ruins were covered by thick plants. This made them hard to see from the ground.
Using New Technology
To find out more, scientists used LiDAR. LiDAR stands for "Light Detection and Ranging." It sends out laser pulses. These pulses bounce off the ground and come back. This creates a 3D map of the land. It can even see through forests! This technology helped them map the entire city. They could see where buildings and streets once were.
Life in Ancient Angamuco
A Busy City
Angamuco was a very busy place. It was home to many thousands of people. The city had a huge number of buildings. It was a major center for the Purépecha people.
Why Angamuco Was Important
This city was very important for its time. It was the largest city in western Mexico. It was bigger than the Purépecha capital. This shows how powerful and organized the Purépecha civilization was.
The Purépecha Civilization
Who Were the Purépecha?
The Purépecha were an ancient people. They lived in the area of Michoacán, Mexico. They had a strong kingdom called the Tarascan State. They were known for their skills. These skills included metalwork and building.
Their Capital City
The main capital of the Purépecha was Tzintzuntzan. It was also a large city. But Angamuco was even bigger in terms of area. This suggests Angamuco played a different role. It might have been a major farming or trade center.
See also
In Spanish: Angamuco para niños
