TEPEYAHUALCO DE HIDALGO.- The ancient city of Cantona, a sprawling pre-Hispanic metropolis nestled in the lava fields of Puebla, is celebrating 30 years of public access. While only a small portion of this once-vast city is currently open to visitors, ongoing archaeological work continues to reveal fascinating details about its unique urban design and rich history.
To mark this milestone, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), in collaboration with the INAH Puebla Center, is hosting "Stone and Memory: The Ancestral Legacy of Cantona" on January 18th and 19th, 2025. The event will not only celebrate the site's anniversary but also honor the legacy of archaeologist Ángel García Cook (1937-2017), whose years of dedicated work were instrumental in uncovering much of what we know about Cantona today.
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Cantona, which thrived between 600 and 800 AD, is unlike any other ancient city in the region. Built on a malpaís, a rugged lava field, its unique layout is characterized by enclosed housing units and intricate internal pathways. As García Cook himself pointed out, almost the entire population, except for the elite, lived within these walled or naturally delimited compounds, a design perfectly adapted to the challenging terrain.
The "Stone and Memory" program offers a fascinating glimpse into the ongoing research at Cantona. Experts will share their latest findings in a series of lectures and presentations, including:
• Cantona and its Neighbors: A View from the Northern Sierra of Puebla: A look at Cantona's regional connections.
• Presence of Ball Courts in the Northern Sierra of Puebla: Exploring the ritual significance of this ancient Mesoamerican sport.
• Tastil: An Urban Center of Northwest Argentina: A comparative perspective on ancient urbanism.
• Ancient Urbanism on the Banks of the Nile: Expanding the discussion to global examples of urban development.
The event will also recognize the dedicated custodians who have protected this ancient site for the past 30 years, including Angélica Miñón de Cristóbal, Álvaro Novas Loeza, and Enrique Miñón Hernández. They will share their personal experiences of safeguarding this precious piece of history.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the site firsthand on a guided tour led by archaeologist Katina Vackimes Serret, an expert in the restoration of this fortified city. Covering an impressive 1,453 hectares, Cantona once controlled vital trade routes between the central highlands of Mexico and the Gulf Coast during the Middle Classic and Early Postclassic periods (600-900 AD).
Other presentations will delve into specific aspects of the site, including structural conservation efforts and the study of the city's ancient ceramics, offering a detailed picture of daily life in Cantona. Researchers Iván Lina Ramos and Katina Vackimes Serret will also present lectures on Cantona's relationship with other Epiclassic cities and its place within the broader landscape of the Oriental Basin of Puebla.
The celebrations will conclude with a vibrant showcase of Mexican culture, featuring mariachi music, traditional dance performances by the San Juan group, and the music of the Hermanos Gómez marimba ensemble from the City of Libres. "Stone and Memory" promises to be a rich and engaging event, celebrating both the history of Cantona and the ongoing efforts to understand and preserve this remarkable ancient city. Admission is free.
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