HUASTECA CULTURE: HISTORY, LOCATION, CHARACTERISTICS, ECONOMY, TRADITIONS - HISTORY - 2025

The Huasteca culture is a culture that appeared in the Mexican region called Huasteca. This territory is divided between the current states of Veracruz, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Querétaro and Tamaulipas. The members of this culture spoke a language of Mayan origin, which has evolved into the current Huasteco.

The Huastecos call themselves teenek, a word that can be translated as "men from here." Unlike other peoples, the Huasteca culture survived the arrival of the Spanish conquerors and today there are still communities in the same region that their ancestors inhabited.

Huasteca ceramics at the Museo Casamata de H. Matamoros, Tamaulipas - Source: De Ponchito12345 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Ponchito12345 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

The first members of this culture arrived in the Huasteca around 1500 BC. There they built settlements and related to others who inhabited the area until they merged with them. Their culture began to show its most relevant features around 750 AD. C.

Among its customs and characteristics, the practice of deforming the skull stood out. In addition, teeth were also mutilated and nose and ears were pierced. The Huastecas never formed a political unit, but were divided into several city-states without any type of economic or political commitment between them.

Origin and history

The Huastecas are descendants of some Mayan groups in southern Mexico. The moment of greatest splendor of their culture came before the Aztecs established their empire in Mesoamerica.

First settlements

Archaeological finds show that the Huasteca culture arrived in the Gulf of Mexico area between 1500 BC. C. and 900 a. They were groups of Mayan origin from the south of the country.

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Huastec settlements had inhabitants of several different groups. Thus, in the south and southwest were the Huastecos themselves and the Tepehuas, Otomí and Totonacos. In the north and northwest, for their part, Nahua, Chichimecas, Pames and Guachichiles lived together.

The name by which the region was known was Xiuhcoac, which means “turquoise snake”. All the peoples that lived in it formed the Huasteca culture.

Aztec period

The Aztecs, led by Moctezuma, began in 1454 a campaign to conquer the Huasteca region. The war continued until 1506, when King Ahuizotl was able to defeat the inhabitants of the area.

From that date, the Huasteca was dominated by the Mexica. This caused the cultural exchange between the two peoples. Customs, modes of expression and ideas were changing due to the mutual influence between both cultures.

Colonial period

The conquests of Tenochtitlán by the Spanish in 1521 brought about the end of the Aztec rule. The Spanish sent expeditions to subdue the peoples of the Gulf Coast and initiate the colonization of their territories.

This process was not easy for the conquerors, since the resistance against their troops was remarkable. Hernán Cortés himself had to command an army made up of indigenous allies to defeat them in October 1522.

Hernan Cortes. Source:

Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando

From that moment, the Huasteca region was under the power of the Spanish Empire. Cortés ordered the construction of new settlements and distributed large areas of land among his officers.

The Spanish settlers were unable to find the gold or silver they were looking for and began to enslave the natives as a method of increasing their wealth. Despite the fact that the Spanish Crown had prohibited the slave trade, it was very common that many were sold and sent to the Caribbean. The result was a great loss of population in the area.

This situation changed in 1527. The Crown intervened and expropriated the lands that Cortés had distributed. New Spanish settlers arrived in the area and the treatment of the indigenous people improved notably.

Location

The ancient Huastec culture encompassed northern Veracruz, eastern Hidalgo, northeast Puebla, southeast San Luis Potosí, and a small territory in Tamaulipas. Along the coast, the Huasteco territory ran from Tuxpan to Pánuco.

The territorial limits to the north were marked by the Guayalejo and Tamesí rivers and remains of settlements have been found near the current Ciudad Mante.

Teayo, in Veracruz, was the landmark of the southwestern border. For its part, in the lower area of ​​the sierra, Huastec archaeological remains have been found in an area that extends to Metlaltoyuca.

General characteristics

The term huasteco comes from the Nahuatl word "cuextécatl", which can have two possible meanings: "small snail", if it comes from cuachalolotl, or "guaje", if it comes from "huaxitl"

The Spanish religious Fray Bernardino de Sahagún wrote that “The name of all these was taken from the province they call Cuextlan, where those that are populated are called« Cuextecas », if there are many, and if one« Cuextecatl », and by another name «Toveiome» when there are many, and when one «Toveio», which name means «our neighbor».

Cranial deformation and lobar perforation

One of the most outstanding characteristics of the Huasteca culture was the custom of deforming the skull, possibly for ritual reasons. In addition, the ears were also pierced to decorate them with elements of bone and shell.

Nakedness

Although it is not confirmed one hundred percent, many experts affirm that the Huastecos used to go naked. The source of this information has been the writings found in archaeological excavations.

On the other hand, the current Huastecos usually wear blanket dresses.

Language

The language most spoken by the Huastecos is the Teenek or Huasteco language. In addition, the use of Nahuatl and Spanish is also very common. The first of these languages ​​is of Mayan root, although it is estimated that this branch began to differentiate thousands of years ago.

The Huastecos, in their language, call themselves teenek, which means "men from here."

Multilanguage

At present, three indigenous languages ​​are still spoken in the Huasteca region: Nahuatl, in Veracruz and part of San Luis Potosí; the Huasteco, in San Luis Potosí, in the north of Veracruz and in Tamaulipas; and pame, a dialect used in the mountainous area that separates San Luis Potosí and Querétaro.

Sculpture

The Huastecs used sculpture as a means of expression. His works have unique characteristics that differentiate them from those produced in other cultures.

With the pieces they made, the Huastecs represented their worldview. Normally, they were representations of their gods or important personages within the city.

The material used to make the statues was sandstone. The result was human figures, usually expressionless and of indefinite sex. On some occasions they also represented animals.

For the most part, the figures are represented standing, staring straight ahead. When it comes to female representations, the arms are placed on the belly, while in the masculine one arm is appreciated on the ribs and the other extended.

Other characteristics of Huasteca sculpture is the presence of complex body tattoos and conical or fan-shaped headdresses.

Economy

The archaeological studies carried out show that the first inhabitants of the area who dominated agriculture were the Otomi. These groups settled on the banks of the Pánuco River.

The Huastecos arrived in the region around 1500 BC. C. and they stood out for their pottery production, especially for the clay containers they made.

Agriculture was its main economic activity, as is the case today. In addition, they also own herds of cattle and build items with wood.

farming

The Mexica called the area in which the Huastecs settled as Tonacatlapan, "land of food." The cause was the great fertility of the land, which allowed the cultivation of a large number of plants.

Among the most frequent crops were corn, beans, squash, chili peppers, sweet potatoes or yucca. The Huastecas practiced seasonal agriculture, when the rains began. Before planting, they burned farmland.

Harvest

In addition to agriculture, the Huastecos were also dedicated to the collection of various vegetables. Among them, the small chilies, wild fruits or arum.

The members of this culture did not only collect vegetables. Evidence has also been found that he collected shellfish and oysters. In addition, they also looked for honey and salt.

On the other hand, the hunters in the settlements played an important role in food sustenance. His captures, in addition, were also used to make aesthetic and ritual accessories.

Ceramics

Huasteca pottery during the Postclassic Period was enriched with the influence received from other cultures. The most notable were those of the Mayan area and those of the center of Veracruz.

During the last of the periods in which Huasteca ceramic production is divided, the products they made began to have commercial importance. Evidence has been found that this trade reached as far as the Rio Grande, in the north, and as far as Zempoala, in the south.

Likewise, the Huastecas sold part of their artisan production in the weekly markets that were held throughout the region.

Traditions and customs

Contrary to what happened with other cultures, the Huastecs have managed to maintain part of their traditions and customs prior to the arrival of the Spanish conquerors. This has allowed us to have a lot of knowledge about what they were like.

Xantolo

The xantolo or festival of the dead, is one of the most important celebrations for the Huasteca culture. On November 1, wakes with incense are held. They pray on altars where photos of the deceased are placed.

The next day, November 2, the relatives of the deceased decorate their graves with flowers.

The Huastecas believe that the deceased spend the entire month with their relatives. For this reason, on the last day of November the altars are decorated with dried flowers and fruits to say goodbye to the deceased.

Huapango

The huapango has origins that date back to colonial times. The Spanish brought their music and dance with them, which, by mixing with the indigenous ones, gave rise to a new style. Later, the African slaves also contributed their own compositions.

The influence of these three cultures led to the appearance of the musical genre known today as Son Huasteca.

Healing rites

One of the customs that date back to pre-Hispanic times are the healing rites. These are carried out by healers who, according to the beliefs of this culture, communicate with the baatsik, supernatural beings who can steal the souls of humans.

The healer has the mission of recovering the stolen soul and, thus, heal the person. These rites must be performed in the Teenek language, since the Baatsik do not understand another language. The whole healing process takes three days.

After successfully recovering the soul, the patient receives therapeutic cleanings. To perform them, the healers rub the patient's body with branches, live chickens and eggs before the images of some saints placed on an altar.

The Spanish influence made those saints belong to the Catholic saints. In addition, it is that phase, prayers are made in Spanish.

Political and social organization

The governments of the Huasteca culture were theocratic in character, with religion as the legitimizing base of power.

Each one of the important cities of the Huastecos was governed by a cacique. There was no type of political unit, so each city-state was totally independent. Collaboration stages were only seen when some kind of military threat was presented.

Political organization

The political organization of this culture was totally hierarchical. At the head of it were the caciques, the priests and the military. Behind them was the social class made up of nobles and warriors.

After these upper classes were the merchants and artisans and, in the last step, the peasants.

As has been pointed out, power was in the hands of the chiefs. Each of them ruled several towns and only joined forces in the face of an external military threat.

The position of chieftain was hereditary and passed to the closest adult male descendant. In the event that the heir was not of the appropriate age, the Huastecs appointed a kind of regent. If there was no heir, a chief indigenous or pascole was chosen.

Social customs

The analysis of the archaeological remains found suggests that the caciques practiced polygamy. Also, their heads were deformed to make them longer and wider.

On the other hand, the Huastec settlements used to be small towns or, even, estancias in the form of a commune. Family houses were also small in size and had thatched roofs. According to Spanish chroniclers, each couple used to have between two and four children.

Religion

At present, the religion practiced by the Huastecas is Catholicism, although with some elements of their ancient pre-Hispanic beliefs.

Polytheistic beliefs

The members of the Huasteca culture practiced a polytheistic religion. Their gods could have human, animal or thing form.

Most of their gods were related to the daily life of the Huastecs, from life and death, to the sun and the moon, through agriculture, disease, music, birth or the wind.

Within its pantheon were gods such as Tlazoltéotl (goddess of crops); Teteoinan (mother of the gods); Xochiquetzal (goddess of love and flowers); Cipak (god who taught men how to grow corn); or Ehécatl (god of the north wind that brought rain).

Worldview

The supernatural world answered the main questions about life and death posed by the Teenek. Among them, how the universe was organized and how it had been created.

For this culture there was a time when there was only sea and darkness. The gods took a fish and divided it into two parts. With one of them they created the Earth and with the other the sky.

On the other hand, the Huastecs thought that the cosmos consisted of three different planes:

- The lower one, inhabited by cold deities and the dead.

- The intermediate or terrestrial plane, where humans and animals lived.

- Superior, where the gods of hot nature dwelt

The arrival of the Spanish conquerors and the Catholic missionaries in charge of converting the natives caused that traditional beliefs began to be replaced by new ones. However, the Huastecos managed to incorporate some elements of their traditional religion.

Ceremonial centers

Although the territory in which the Huasteca culture was located was very wide, so far only two important ceremonial centers have been found.

Tamtoc

This settlement, located in the city of Tamohi, has about 70 circular structures. Among them is a central square that was surrounded by large buildings. Some of them were able to reach 36 meters in height.

Tamtoc had an area of ​​210 hectares and it is thought that it was the most important for the Huastecos. One of the most outstanding aspects is the majority female presence, both in the burials and in the clay figures found.

Almost the entire city was built with earth. Many buildings, whether religious, administrative or residential, were erected on platforms, possibly to prevent flooding.

Among the religious temples found in Tamtoc, a large part were dedicated to the cult of Quetzalcóatl.

Teayo

The other ceremonial center found to date is Teayo, located in the current state of Veracruz. Its most outstanding element in a construction in the form of a pyramid of 11 meters high. The base has three bodies and has a staircase that leads to a temple located in the upper part.

References

1. EcuRed. Huasteca culture. Obtained from ecured.cu
2. Solís Olguín, Felipe. The Huastecos. Obtained from arqueologiamexicana.mx
3. Original towns. Huastecos (Teenek). Obtained from pueblosoriginario.com
4. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Huastec. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. WikiZero. Huastec people. Retrieved from wikizero.com
6. Native Languages ​​of the Americas website. Huasteco Indian Language. Retrieved from native-languages.org
7. Jimenez Greco, Adriana; Elson, Christina M. Archeology of the Huasteca: The Ekholm Collection. Retrieved from amnh.org