New Research in West Mexico: State of Michoacán
Part of: Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)
The western Mexican state of Michoacán extends from the Pacific Coast, includes parts of the Sierra Madre Occidental and stretches north to the Lerma River. This region has a long cultural occupation and, by the end of the Postclassic, it fell within the Tarascan Señorío, a powerful rival of the Aztec empire. Tarascans are known to have an isolate language, being prolific traders, excellent coppersmiths, and, in comparison to their neighbors, had a very distinct culture. In 2014, Dr. Jose Luis Punzo-Diaz launched Proyecto Arqueología y Paisaje del Area Centro Sur de Michoacán, which includes sites located near Lake Zirahuen and north of the Balsas River basin. Since then, he and his team have intensively investigated a number of archaeological sites, which have added to the body of knowledge of this unique culture. This poster session attempts to bring together a cross-section of the most recent work.
Other Keywords
Michoacan •
symbolism •
Ceramics •
bioarchaeology •
Paleopathology •
Shells •
Status •
Archaeometry •
Ax •
Metal
Geographic Keywords
Mesoamerica •
United Mexican States (Country) •
Republic of El Salvador (Country) •
Belize (Country) •
Republic of Guatemala (Country) •
North America (Continent)
Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-5 of 5)
- Documents (5)
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CHARATERIZATION OF CERAMICS UNCOVERED IN THE PAROTA RIVER BASIN AND LAKE SIRAHUEN BASIN, MICHOACÁN, MEXICO: FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS IN ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT AND PETROGRAPHY IN THIN SHEETS (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
This poster shows the results of the petrographic characterization of the ceramics found in the basins of the Parota River and Lake Sirahuen, two archaeological areas surveyed as part of the Proyecto Arqueología y Paisaje del Área Centro Sur de Michoacán. Fluorescence techniques applied are an induction of ultraviolet light and petrographic analysis in thin sheets; the first technique was used as an experimental test to identify variances in a very large sample and thereby to reduce to a viable...
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Marine shells and green stones as funerary objects from Tomb II, Tingambato, Michoacán (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
A través de la historia, los rituales y formas de enterrar a los muertos han variado entre grupos culturales y regiones. Mesoamérica y particularmente su área occidente no fueron la excepción. En este territorio se han descubierto tumbas acompañadas de ofrendas desde épocas correspondientes al periodo Formativo y que, con el paso del tiempo, constituyeron verdaderas tradiciones funerarias. La zona arqueológica de Tingambato se encuentra en el límite sur del poblado que lleva el mismo nombre en...
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A paleopathological analysis of skeletal remains uncovered in La Cueva de los Hacheros, Turicato, Michoacán. (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
This poster deals with the study of skeletal remains belonging to eighteen individuals deposited within La Cueva de los Hacheros, a site located in the municipality of Turicato, Michoacán. Unfortunately, as a result of looting by landowners, the site has an altered context. Despite that fact, a salvage excavation and a comprehensive analysis of the remains yielded valuable data for interpreting the site and learning more about the individuals buried within. The skeletal analysis made it possible...
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Ritualism and Metal Objects in Michoacan (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
The area of the current state of Michoacan has been considered one of the most important producers of metal objects during the Prehispanic period. These objects are always related to various rituals because of its peculiar characteristics of color, sound, shape and even smell. From the analysis of more than 1,800 metal objects from extensive collections, particularly at the Regional Museum of Michoacan and the State Museum of Michoacan, by the Project Archaeology and Landscape of the Center -...
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Use and Symbolism of Copper Axes in Tarascan Society during the Late Post-Classic Period in modern day Michoacán, México (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
The cultural core of the Tarascan society settled in the region of what is now Michoacán, western Mexico. For the Tarascans, gathering firewood was a sacred activity, and the maintenance of a never-ending fire within their temples or "cues" was an essential part of their religion. This sacred element was an offering for their most venerated god, Curicaueri. Collecting wood was an activity so sacred that even the tools used to retrieve it were transformed into consecrated objects sharing the same...