CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE MODERN TARASCAN AREA—WEST 
wooded mountain slopes (where maize could be 
easily cultivated with the digging stick) and on 
elevations difficult of access (chiefly for protection 
from Chichimec raids). Many of these estancias 
were likely wiped out by the early epidemics; 
others the Spaniards probably congregated with 
larger towns during the last half of the 16th and 
first years of the 17th centuries (Simpson, 1934; 
Spain—Law, Statutes, etc., 1681, ley VI, tit. 3), 
in order to better instruct natives in Christianity 
and to facilitate the collection of tribute and 
forced labor. Probably few present Tarascan 
pueblos possess their pre-Spanish sites. 
Modern Tarascan settlements occupy a variety 
of sites, most of which have level, or nearly level, 
surfaces. Those along Lake P&tzcuaro are on 
eminences or shelves above the water’s edge; 
all avoid frequently flooded delta plains. In the 
Sierra many towns are located on slopes or benches 
immediately bordering the large basin plains; 
others occupy level spots in local swales. <A few, 
such as Urapicho, Cocucho, Quinceo, and Ocu- 
2 
“= 
5 
micho, occupy benches on hill slopes. With the 
exception of Paracho, Sierra settlements avoid 
the centers of basin flats. Likely, many villages 
were moved from pre-Conquest mountain sites 
to present locations near abundant plow land. 
The inhabitants of Urapicho, for example, tell a 
legend concerning the former location of their 
pueblo on the high slopes of the Cerro de Urapicho 
nearby. Formerly many of the La Canada 
pueblos occupied protective slope and hill sites 
in the surrounding mountains, but after the end 
of the 16th century they were concentrated in 
their present locations in the alluvial floor of the 
valley (map 14). 
Settlement and water supply.—One of the most 
significant factors in the location of Tarascan 
settlements has been water supply. Aside from 
the Lake pueblos, almost every town in Tarasca 
is located near a spring. While the northern 
plateau and southern escarpment areas abound 
in springs, the Sierra has ever been a problem 
area in terms of water supply. In pre-Conquest 
102°10' 
s 
Tangoncicuaro 
r) g 
--- 
lee 
— <<) tN 
~ _(Cusinducuaro) 
° ’ 
(J 
ie) 
\_Le' 
(Choraquiro)° 
L 
= 
_— 7000 ~S 
= 8009— 
9000, 
UASASAJUATA 
/ Wa 
= 
° tie 
°° 
a 
KUAIPICARAS 
aN 
gos A 
S Ss 
~ 
Ape?) 
TAAEJUATA 
(er, vy, 
i 
102°10' 
Map 14.—Distribution of La Canada settlements, 1580 and 1946. 
de Chilchota, 1579. 
BAN 
(Acachuen) oot 
a 
aa Ue 
@ Purepero ae 
s 
ra 
‘f 
C. UARANIKA 
‘ 
f 
' 
t 
= 
—~s000—— i t 
Sl u 
1 a Ne 
Fut (Tacuro 00 
- 
(ichan) 
\ 
Panes 
aaNAN 
a Ol anzftacuaro) 
n \ 
@ Modern Site 
oO Probable Site in 1579 (Re/. Geogr) 
@© Coincidence of modern & 1579 site 
CN 
—— Modern Highway 
--—Probable route of Camino Real, \579 
5 MI 
The 1580 data are from Mus. Nac., leg. 102, Relacién 
The towns of Tacuro and Ichdn still retain their old lands east of Charapan. 
