The pre-Columbian sculptures after the Conquest: reutilization and re-significance in Amecameca, México

Summary

The town of Amecameca is located in the southwest of Mexico City, near the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztcaccíhuatl. Its origin dates back to pre-Columbian times. The city was part of Chalco empire, which was known for its artisans who made extraordinary sculptures.

Over time, many of these sculptures have disappeared, mainly by of the destruction of the Spaniards during the conquest. Currently, there are few examples of sculptures from Amecameca in the museums. Despite this, some inhabitants have reused the sculptures that have been accidentally located in their homes or farmlands. We can see examples of this in the facades of colonial buildings and modern houses around the entire city.

In this paper, I will analyze a group of sculptures which are embedded to the buildings of the city of Amecameca. I will study these pieces through their iconographic elements, trying to elucidate its symbolism. The principal goal of this work is to show the new meaning of pre-Columbian sculptures in the modern imaginary of the inhabitants of Amecameca.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16408