San Ignacio

About sixty kilometres north of Mazatlan lies a beach that holds a treasure trove of petroglyphs, some of which were carved 4500 years ago! The site was used by the indigenous pre-Columbian people of Sinaloa for over 3000 years, presumably for worship relating to their gods and the summer solstice.

Brenda and I visited the Las Labradas Archeological site earlier this week and were fascinated by the works of these ancient people. Las Labradas is located almost exactly on the Tropic of Cancer, making it an ideal spot for honouring the changing of the seasons.

The area of the beach where the carvings are situated is only about 1200 feet long, but it contains roughly six hundred and forty carvings. Lava from two nearby extinct volcanoes hardened and left the huge volcanic rocks that are strewn along this part of the beach. These boulders became the canvas for the ancient artists. The carvings depict various animals, birds, spiral designs, humanoids and celestial events. Despite their age and exposure to the elements, including the ebb and flow of the tides, many of the carvings are still very clear, while others, sadly, have lost much of their definition.

Las Labradas is currently under consideration as a Unesco World Heritage Site, which if granted, would hopefully allow measures to be taken to preserve these valuable records for future generations.Read more