MEXICO CITY.- For decades, the contributions of two Danish sisters, Helga Larsen and Bodil Christensen, to Mexican archaeology and ethnography have remained largely hidden, overshadowed by the work of their male contemporaries. Now, nearly a century later, their remarkable story is finally being brought to light, thanks to the research of scholar Jesper Nielsen. Their journey, marked by both intellectual curiosity and personal tragedy, reveals not only their significant discoveries but also the challenges faced by women in the male-dominated world of post-revolutionary Mexican science.
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Helga (1891-1938) and Bodil (1896-1985) arrived in Mexico after the Revolution, a time of immense social and cultural change. Without formal training in Mesoamerican studies, these resourceful women carved a unique path for themselves. Initially working at the Ericsson telephone company in Mexico City and supporting themselves as translators and secretaries, their passion for Mexican culture soon drew them into the world of archaeology and ethnography.
Nielsen, speaking at El Colegio Nacional's "Archaeology Today" lecture series, highlighted the sisters' remarkable achievements. He emphasized how their work, contemporaneous with that of their compatriot Frans Blom, was equally groundbreaking, particularly in central Mexico and Oaxaca. Their story echoes the rediscovery of other important female Mesoamericanists like Zelia Nuttall, Adela Breton, and Tatiana Proskuoriakoff, whose legacies were also initially overlooked.
The sisters' "boldness and curiosity," as Nielsen described it, propelled them into academic circles, leading to increasing involvement in fieldwork. Their travels through Puebla, Tlaxcala, Morelos, and Veracruz gave them invaluable knowledge and local connections, which proved crucial during their participation in the second Swedish expedition to Mexico in 1934 and 1935.
Led by ethnographers Sigvald Linné and Gösta Montell, this expedition relied heavily on the sisters' expertise. Linné himself acknowledged their crucial role, stating that their "intimate knowledge of the country and the natives" was essential to acquiring "extensive and scientifically important material, as well as archaeological collections." One of their most significant finds, unearthed during an excavation in Calpulalpan, Tlaxcala, was the "Las Colinas vessel," a trove of Teotihuacan ceramic pieces. These artifacts, along with other impressive archaeological and ethnographic collections, were sent to the Stockholm Museum and finally repatriated to Mexico in 2022.
But the sisters' interests extended beyond ancient artifacts. They were fascinated by the living cultures of Mexico. In Tlaxcala, they documented a Yaqui dance, a poignant record of a community displaced from Sonora for their resistance against the government. This act of cultural preservation reveals their deep empathy and respect for indigenous traditions.
Their research also took them to the slopes of the Iztaccihuatl volcano, where they studied the rituals of graniceros (weather shamans). Perhaps most remarkably, they ventured on horseback into the remote Sierra Norte de Puebla, becoming the first to document the volador ritual in San Pablito Pahuatlan. Their repeated visits to this isolated community allowed them to uncover a way of life deeply connected to the 260-day ritual calendar, a discovery that speaks to their dedication and perseverance.
Tragically, Helga's life was cut short in 1938. Her ashes were scattered on the hillsides near San Pablito Pahuatlan, a testament to her profound connection to the land. Two of her articles, Following the Trail of the Dead and Celebrating the Day of the Dead in Mexico, remain unpublished, offering a tantalizing glimpse into her insights and observations. Nielsen also revealed that Helga had worked with archaeologist Sylvanus Morley at Chichen Itza and even accompanied him on a visit to the Maya Cruzo'ob rebels.
Despite this devastating loss, Bodil continued their shared work, focusing her research on the ritual figures made of amate paper by the Nahua and Otomi people of Puebla. Becoming a naturalized Mexican citizen in 1940, she experienced a "rebirth," expanding her investigations throughout central and southeastern Mexico. She became a respected authority on indigenous textiles, particularly in Oaxaca, collaborating closely with American anthropologist Irmgard Weitlaner Johnson.
Bodil's contributions extended beyond research and collecting. Her documentary photography captured countless aspects of Mexican life, from indigenous customs and archaeological sites to colonial architecture and landscapes. These images provide a valuable window into a Mexico of the past. When Bodil passed away in 1985, her ashes, like her sister's, were scattered on a mountain in Oaxaca, solidifying their enduring connection to the Mexican landscape and the natural world.
The story of Helga Larsen and Bodil Christensen is a testament to their passion, resilience, and intellectual curiosity. Their work, finally being recognized, not only enriches our understanding of Mexican history and culture but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of researchers. Their legacy is a reminder that important contributions can come from unexpected places, and that the pursuit of knowledge knows no gender.
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