MEXICO CITY.- A series of anthropological studies about more than 10 indigenous groups in Chiapas, their history, social organization, art, worldview, social movements and migration, are gathered in the Ethnographic Atlas: Chiapas Indigenous Peoples, edited by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), an editorial project in charge of ethnologist Margarita Nolasco, recently departed.

The atlas compiles investigations of 30 specialists regarding Chiapas indigenous peoples, who represent the 28.5 per cent of the entity’s population. Lacandones, Tejolabales, Choles, Tzeltales, Tzotziles, Jacaltecos, Kanjobales, Mames, Mochos, Zoques and Motocintlecos are the groups that inhabit to present Chiapas, many of them heirs of Maya culture.

With the presence of Alfonso de Maria y Campos, general director of INAH, the atlas co-edited by INAH and the Chiapas State Government was presented, where some aspects of the cultural richness conserved by these groups, as the 22 languages spoken, were remarked.

Gloria Artis, National Coordinator of Anthropology recalled that this publication is part of the Mexico Indigenous Regions in the New Millennium Ethnographic Project, which turns 10 years old in 2009. Oaxaca and Mexico City atlas were published recently.

Veracruz, Puebla and Chihuahua atlas will be published in 2009; the Ethnographic Atlas: Chiapas Indigenous Peoples was one of the last works coordinated by Margarita Nolasco, who devoted a great part of her professional life to peoples of that state.

This book is part of the INAH 70th anniversary celebrations, and had collaborations of specialists Marina Alonso, Hadlyyn Cuadriello, Rodrigo Megchun, Miguel Hernandez and Ana Laura Pacheco.

Ethnologist Marina Alonso explained that “this is a contemporary anthropological work about the great diversity of indigenous societies: it conjugates academic reflection, data systematization, field work experience and interviews, which draws attention of the public”.

Felipe Solis, recently deceased, was acknowledged for promoting actualization of ethnographic halls of the National Museum of Anthropology, where Chiapas peoples are included now.

The book deepens into Prehispanic, Colonial and Contemporary history, development and changes in languages, pilgrimages and sanctuaries, oral tradition, education, art, coffee and maize production, social movements and human rights, among other themes.

The atlas includes historical and recent images of Chiapas indigenous peoples, from the San Cristobal de las Casas Photographic Archive; the Nacho Lopez Fund of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples Development; the Casasola Archive of the INAH National Photo Library, and from the collection of cinematographer Carlos Martinez.