Nuevo Casas Grandes travel guide
A pleasant small city located in Chihuahua. The two main reasons to visit relate to nearby locations, however: the precolumbian ruins of Paquimé, and the small village of Mata Ortiz, the home of Juan Quezada, Mexico’s most honored potter.
Paquime was the center of the Casas Grandes culture in the northern part of the Republic of Mexico for over 300 years, reaching the peak of its power around the 13th century. It is believed that the population of the city reached 10,000. The buildings of Paquime were constructed of rammed earth. The walls were plastered with mud or caliche and painted white or decorated with colored patterns and designs. Inhabitants of the city enjoyed running water and even a sewer system! Those of us familiar with the ruins of the Southwestern U.S. will recognize the familiar “T-door” shape sprinkled throughout the Paquime ruins.
[mjh: some good pix at the link above]