Mexican Archeology in 30 years Don Patterson

I had the latest honor and joy of chatting with Don Patterson at San Miguel de Alende about his spectacular life in the field of Meso America, which lasted three decades from the 1970s to the early 2000s. In his career, Patterson worked on more than 150 archaeological sites from Honduras to North Mexico. He is an expert in the archaeological illustration, photographing the numerous inventions of Hispanic artwork and then creating stunning maps.

Patterson came to Mexico at the age of 27 in 1970 and was attracted by the opportunity to study with a valuable sculptor Kesenbam The Instituteo Allende at San Miguel de Alende. Gestonbam presented his first book about Maya to Patterson, which prompted a lifetime of lust and study.

At the Institudo Alende, Batterson gained masters in fine arts. He also received a wife – within a year of San Mikul, she married Batterson’s beautiful Marishela Garcia de la Soto. They have a daughter, Jessica Patterson. After graduation, he was given a painting and life drawing of a work teaching at the Instituteo Alende, while the attractive findings of Hispanic artifacts in the local area were inevitable for archaeological work.

Finding the throne of the bird Jaguar III, the Prabhu of Yakshilan

The Yaksilan project is one of his favorite because of the site’s upstairs history – and because he is incredibly discovered there.

“I can recall the excavation days and the next nights of the bird Jaguar’s throne,” said Patterson. “In the world of Classic Maya, the Lord of Bird Jaguar Yakshilan in the eighth century after Christ. Roberto (Garcia Mole, Site Director) gave me the opportunity to excavate the northwest outer corner of the Structure No. 7.Rivera Red TempleOvarian“ This is popular because Theopart Malar spent nights in the building during his famous studies in the late 1890s. ”

Patterson continued. “When my brush began to expose the surface on the first sides of the two large stones under the soil, my excitement rose. In such moments, it was very difficult to control your stimulation to attack the dirt like a bone looking like a bone. The next hour it seemed like an eternity.

“At that time there were some places except Copen, Honduras and Guitamala’s Guirikua, where the full image of the carved stone was discovered. When the complete throne was released, I thought there was no other moment in my life.

Mexican Archeology is a new golden age

For centuries, the looting of archaeological sites is not controlled by Mexico and around the world. In 1973, an important law was passed in Mexico. According to Patterson, this important law is “the National Anthropology and History Institute (InAH) provided decisive power in determining national patriotism. The robbery (objects from the archaeological sites) are now subject to more stringent laws and severe punishments.” Importantly, this law gave me a decree to protect, protect, investigate and spread the archaeological patriarchy of Mexico. “

It worked. “In comparison with many countries in Latin America, Mexico almost stopped the massive robbery that has been going on for centuries… Also, in this period, within this period, within this period, within a fellowistist, within a fellowistist, within a fellowistist, within a fellow vascandist, within a fellow vascandist, in a fellow vascantist The discovery of the Great Koyalxi Stone and the next excavation from the era.

Joining Ina to work in the Templo mayor

In 1978, when the National Anthropology Institute and the most respected general director of history referred to him for a work of the Templo mayor, Patterson knew that he had a great gap, where he used a “camera lucida” technique to help him be very efficient and useful. Only two Grningos worked for the Ina at the time.

“In 1978, I was very fortunate that I was very lucky to have my first payment to Inflover … It was an enthusiastic place to work. Each day the excavations were brought to light. Educators, kings, presidents, congressmen, ambassadors and film stars, Dumin Dumk Dumk Dumk Dumk Dumk Dumk Duming, Duol Took Dumk Dumd Duke Duning, Duo Dual Duning Houtslocketley. ”

Monte Alban and Sichan Itsay

“At that time, we documented the carved monuments of Monte Alban, Dianzu and Yakul and Oksaka. Monte Alban’s sculpture monumentsIn Spanish and German languages. ”

Patterson prefers to have memories playing as a child in the wreckage of Sichan Itsa, while her father worked there in a six -year plan. Some of the best memories of the efficient and dedicated persons he worked.

For example, Patterson talked about Dan Eugeneo May, the experienced chairman of the Excavation Group in Sichan Itse, and said, “He who worked the best part of his life, he knew the location of each mountain in 22 square kilometers that included the large center of Sichin.”

While identifying Culture .Bopol Wu ”: In a day, first Cultivation They explored a Rottznac, the second A was the nest, and the third dozen songs! A few days later, they found a “three meters long BOA” that was properly curled in the mouth of one of the head snake heads in the main plaza.

San comes home for Miguel: Rio Laja and Kasada de la Virgen project

During this time, a group of Patterson’s group began a solution method with the central part of Rio Laja in the Bajio region of Mexico, which led to attractive results. As Patterson explained, “Wherever we are, or Ranjeria, Make sure to have at least one Hispanic immigration in the vicinity. In other words, today’s farmers use the same sediment soils that have been a thousand years ago for their predecessors! As well as, almost each Ranjeria There is a 18Th The Century Chappell is built around the structure of a few colonial haintas. It is convenient and simplified for our documents about the colonial heritage, because it can be accomplished simultaneously with the preceding period of Hispani. ”

When their survey was over, they began to analyze the data. “The density of the sites with architectural sites in this northern boundary valley of Meso America was more than ten square kilometers. We thought that the site density would certainly be higher because one was traveling to the center of Messo America.

With these compulsory results, Patterson’s group created a strong case to create national sites called a national archaeological Atlas.

The last plan of Pattersan was on the Kasada de La Virgen Archaeological Site, near San Miguel de Alende, on his own proverb. “We worked in a chain of field seasons from December 1995 to January 2000, four years, 48 ​​hours per week.

After the Kasada de La Virgen Project, Patterson San served as the ecology director of the Municipality of Miguel Municipality.

In closing, Batterson explained a guidance principle: “Beyond the economic limit,“ one of the main reasons for not excavation of any structure is the professional duty to protect the data as possible for future research.

Travel to Sibalpa: A life of archeology

The legacy of this terrible Gringo’s contribution in the field of Messeurial archeology is interesting. The collection of books he wrote, edited or quoted in detail fills many booksheels. I can personally confirm Patterson’s memory, ”Travel to Sibalpa: A life of archeology, ” A wonderful reading, dear reader, he wants to encourage you Bopol Classic Maya to hear in their own words and even travel to your own “Sibbalpa”.

San Miguel D Alende is based on, On Mary Jackson A writer and charitable leader, he had previously worked in the US Foreign Department. His award -winning novel “The Broken Hummingbird”, set up in San Miguel de Allende, was released on October 2023. Ann Mary can be accessed through his website, Anmariejacksonauthor.com.