Ancient cultures of Mexico, part I, 
Aug 11, 2006

Ancient Cultures of Mexico By Guillermo Méndez Wednesday, August 16, 3pm, Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25, 50 pesos

Aztec, Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec-we know they were some of the great cultures of ancient Mexico, but how the heck can you tell one 'tec from another? If this question has been on your mind lately, you may be interested in a lecture this week at the Santa Ana Theater. Retired Professor of Humanities Guillermo Méndez examines four major pre-Hispanic Mexican cultures described by one Mesoamerican scholar as the four "unifying forces" in ancient Mexico: the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Toltec and Aztec civilizations. The lecture is illustrated with over 200 digital images of the art, artifacts and architecture of the four cultures.

For each culture, a distinguishing concept is given and discussed. The concepts help to differentiate one group from another. For example, the concept for the Olmecs is "The Mother Culture," for that is the role they played in Mesoamerican history. Most of the salient characteristics of later cultures were present in the Olmec several centuries before the year zero in our Gregorian calendar.

The ancient cultures of Mexico shared a unique calendar that combined a 365-day solar calendar and a 260-day ritual calendar. This combination of calendars did not repeat until 52 years had passed. Thus, 52-year "centuries" acquired considerable importance in the cosmic expectations of the Aztecs, for example, demanding vital rituals like the "new fire ceremony."

Every 52 years, all the fires in the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan, were extinguished. On a hilltop outside of the city a "new fire" was started on the chest of a soon-to-be-sacrified person. From the new fire all the extinguished fires of the city were reignited.

Each of the four cultures had its own style in art and architecture. Distinguishing visual images are presented that characterize each culture. In the case of the Olmecs, the colossal heads carved of basalt are discussed, and the unique were-jaguar images-many carved from jadeite-are examined and interpreted.

A second lecture the following week using the same format presents the Zapotec, Maya, Classic Veracruz and Mixtec cultures.

Explores Los Picachos

Audubon Lecture: Wildlife of Los Picachos Tuesday, August 15, 4pm, Villa Jacaranda, Aldama 53, Non-members 50 pesos/ Audubon members free

Audubon San Miguel is presenting the latest in the Audubon Programs & Lecture series, "Wildlife of Los Picachos," by Mario Mendoza García. Los Picachos, with peaks over 8000 feet high, is an extinct volcano that looms over the town of San Miguel de Allende. It is rarely explored due to a lack of vehicle access and the sparse population-characteristics that have preserved the unique habitat. The mountains are covered by grazing land and dry scrub on the lower slopes. Tropical deciduous trees, some rare and endangered, are found in the numerous canyons of Los Picachos, while higher up the volcano one encounters extensive oak woodlands. 

The upland oak forests contain at least seven distinct species of the genus Quercus, as well as other species of trees. The greatest variety is found in the canyons, with some rare species of tropical deciduous trees in danger of extinction. Representatives of many other plant families (including a small but fascinating carnivorous plant), as well as native mammals, birds and reptiles are protected by the geographical isolation of Los Picachos.

It was precisely this natural diversity and its proximity to San Miguel that led the conservation group Cante to acquire, in 1991, a piece of land in one of the best preserved parts of the Picachos range. The concern that led to the purchase was the growing threat caused by a variety of long-established but destructive practices, such as overgrazing, land clearing, hunting, collection and capture of wild plants and animals, as well as the removal of timber, soil and stone. The planned objective was to work intensively to conserve a central area, La Cañada de los Pajaritos (The Canyon of the Little Birds), with the goal of having the entire range officially declared a protected natural area within the foreseeable future.

The purchased area was fenced, a modest encampment was built, minimal security was established to prevent depredation, and a preliminary survey of the flora and fauna was carried out. At the same time, filtrating dams were constructed by using stones available in the area. The purpose of these dams, built over the river bed, was to slow the rate of flow of water during the rainy season in order to conserve both soil and moisture. In addition, two more dams were built to hold water all year round, principally for the use by wildlife during the dry season. White-tailed deer were also introduced into the reserve. After a period of adjustment in captivity, they were released and adapted to their new habitat without difficulty.

During this initial phase, a variety of scientific and technical advisors (botanists, zoologists, geologists, and so on) visited the reserve. Their observations helped greatly in assessing and conserving not only the reserve and its resources, but also those of the entire range. Nevertheless, and despite visits by state and federal officials, the conditions were not considered suitable for the entire Picachos range to be declared a protected natural area.

Over the years, a number of groups have organized visits to the reserve. These visits, although primarily focused on the appreciation of the landscape and nature, also offer a chance to see pre-Hispanic remains, such as rock paintings found in caves in the mountains.

Mario Mendoza is a naturalist who has made many visits to the Forest Reserve of La Cañada de los Pajaritos, located on Los Picachos and administered by El Charco del Ingenio. Mario has led walks up Los Picachos on behalf of El Charco del Ingenio and lives on a slope of the mountain at Alcocer. Camping trips and excursions to the Picachos mountains, which can be arranged through the information center, or by email at charco@laneta.apc.org