Return to Home
A display of the past
by Érika Carrillo |
 El Museo Arqueológico del Cuale (The Cuale Archaeological Museum) is a hidden treasure that we invite to you to visit. Don't worry about long corridors lined with pieces of clay and stone. This small museum is remarkably engaging. With just two galleries, you can enjoy a complete tour in less than an hour (reading every display). The display notes for the permanent collection are in Spanish and English; for the temporary exhibit the notes are just in Spanish.  Inaugurated just this past December 20th, 2004, at the same time as the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and the National Council for Culture and Arts (CONACULTA) museum, the Cuale Museum presents a small taste of Pre-Hispanic cultures concentrating on the Mexico's west from Guasave, Sinaloa, up to the state of Michoacán, the Purépecha territory. Many of the exhibits were already on display in the previous museum (closed 14 months for remodeling) but there are now some new pieces previously on display at of the Regional Museum of Guadalajara and are worth a look. As an INAH museum, the exhibits are arranged chronologicaly. The permanent exhibition is comprised of six sections. It begin in 5000-2000 A.D., the approximate date of the first establishments in the area, and ends in 16th century with the Spanish conquest. While little is known about the Pre-Hispanic West, it had some very important elements and a fascinating social structure. Did you know that the Purépecha Empire was able to stop the Mexica invasion and that the original name of the region is Cihuatlampa meaning "The Land of Women"? That a strong matriarchy existed? In fact, a sculpture of "la Matriarca" adorns the entrance of the museum. But the most interesting exhibit, archaeologically, is "las Tumbas de Tiro" the underground Tombs for the dead and their offerings. The most famous of these is that of "Etzatlán" comprised of three chambers 16 meters deep. Temporary Exhibits: Huicholes  The second gallery is designed for temporary exhibits. This month: wirraritari yemeteniuka (The Huicholes are here). It is a good opportunity to learn about their origin, their view of nature and the cosmos, and the ritual meaning of their traditional hand-crafts (chaquira and embroidery). The exhibition is complete and well presented. The museum's director, Margarita Mendizábal, and its curator, Fernando Becerra, are planning some interesting activities to attract visitors to learn about Mexico's ancestors. They hope to use the outside of the museum to project Huicholes images of from the exhibition. They are also looking into inviting researchers to give lectures and conferences. MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO DEL CUALE Isla del Río Cuale, near the bay Downtown Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Free Admission This article was originally published in Bay Vallarta, issue 23, January 28, 2005. |
Other spotlights |