MEZCALA CULTURE: HISTORY, TRADITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The mezcala culture was a Mesoamerican culture that developed its economic and cultural activities in the region near the Balsas River, it is estimated that between the years 200 BC. C and 1000 d. C.

The most interesting data of the ancient mezcala culture were revealed in the last decades thanks to important archaeological works carried out in the current Mexican state of Guerrero, where they discovered sites that belonged to this culture.

Many assure that they are descendants of the Aztecs who penetrated the limits of the ancient empire, while other scholars are inclined to believe that their origin is due to the Cuitlateco peoples.

Little is known about the Mezcala culture, although the statuettes found in the excavations place it as a Mesoamerican culture that coexisted with the great metropolis of Teotihuacan.

Main features

There are many common characteristics between the Aztec civilization and the Mezcala; hence the scientists induce that the two ethnic groups may be twinned.

1- History

Based on the work developed by anthropologists and archaeologists in the Balsas River Basin, it is known that the Mezcala culture developed during the Preclassic period, between 700 and 200 BC. C.; and the Classic, which ranges from 250 to 650 AD. C.

The relics found in the deposits allowed us to know that the great city of Teotihuacan, which was erected in the north of the Valley of Mexico, exerted a great influence on the development of the mezcala culture.

2- Policy

The mezcala culture was organized into chiefdoms, whose anthropological definition is an autonomous political unit comprising a certain number of villages under the permanent control of a supreme chief.

This type of political organization results in the division of well differentiated classes.

3- Location

The geographical environment where the mezcala culture developed is characterized by inhospitable, extremely mountainous landscapes, where the dry and wet seasons are well differentiated.

The towns of the mezcala culture did not have large areas for grazing animals; therefore, ranching was a limited activity.

However, the native fauna around the Balsas River offered them great possibilities of obtaining food through the hunting of hares, white-tailed deer and rabbits.

4- Archaeological sites

The Organera-Xochipala site is one of the sites that provided more details about the political and social organization of the mezcala culture.

It is a settlement of masonry constructions that extends over 22,000 square kilometers.

The explorer William Niven conducted a series of excavations in the region in the 19th century, where he found hundreds of stone objects and anthropomorphic representations.

The Cuetlajuchitlán site extends into the northeast region of Guerrero. It stands out for the defined layout of its streets and the constructions that reflect the existence of a community familiar with carrying out public works.

5- Traditions and rituals

Remains have been found, such as stone pillars, which are believed to have been used as support for underground tombs and funeral pyres.

Representations of the human figure are characterized by abstract facial features, suggested by lines and differences in texture.

Many of these statuettes were found in small vessels or containers, and archaeologists associate them with funeral rituals.

At present, the Mexican authorities express great concern about the continuous looting in the region, which prevents a more in-depth study of the Mezcala culture to learn more details of its history and traditions.

References

1. Evans Susan, "Arqueologhy of Anciant México and Central America". Retrieved on December 11, 2017 from revolvy.com
2. Joyce, Rosemary. "Art, authenticity and the market in Precolumbian antiquities", 2011. Retrieved on December 11, 2017 from bekerley.edu
3. Flores, Samuel, "Sacred packages in Guerrero, yesterday and today." Retrieved on December 11, 2017 from arqueologíamexicana.mx
4. Claudia Carmona, “Mezcala, Guerrero”, 2011. Retrieved on December 11, 2017 from oaxacaguerrero.com