El Occidente de México

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Western Mexico

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WESTERN MEXICO

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the region currently known as Western Mexico was inhabited by human groups who shared some cultural elements in a territory that encompassed the current states of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, Michoacan, as well as bordering areas with Guerrero, Guanajuato, Durango, and Zacatecas. The West is an integral region of Mesoamerica, corridor, and bridge to the southwest of the United States, and pathways through which groups migrated and various goods were exchanged.

We are familiar with both their funeral traditions –and with them the clay vessels, figurines, and sculptures, as well as objects made of shell and stone that they placed in their tombs to accompany their deceased. Over time, there were significant interactions with cultures from Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, which is the reason for the earliest appearance of metal objects of Mesoamerica in Western Mexico, which technology originated from those regions.

At the arrival of the Spaniards, the territory of present-day Michoacan and bordering areas were under the control of the powerful Tarascan Empire, which capital was in Tzintzuntzan. This empire consistently engaged in conflicts with the Mexica Empire of Central Mexico along its eastern border.

For many years, the archaeological remains of the West were intensely looted; the objects that were originally in tombs or burial sites were acquired and sold to become part of private collections, either within the country or in other countries. Today, we must preserve, protect, and learn about this heritage and evidence of our past.

OCCIDENTE DE MÉXICO

Antes de la llegada de los españoles, la región actualmente conocida como Occidente de México estaba habitada por grupos humanos que compartían algunos elementos culturales en un territorio que abarcaba los actuales estados de Sinaloa, Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, Michoacán, así como zonas limítrofes con Guerrero, Guanajuato, Durango y Zacatecas. El Occidente es una región integrante de Mesoamérica, corredor y puente hacia el suroeste de Estados Unidos, y vías por las que migraron grupos y se intercambiaron diversos bienes.

Conocemos sus tradiciones funerarias -y con ellas las vasijas de barro, figurillas y esculturas, así como objetos de concha y piedra- que colocaban en sus tumbas para acompañar a sus difuntos. Con el tiempo, hubo importantes interacciones con culturas de Perú, Ecuador y Colombia, razón por la cual en el occidente de México aparecieron los primeros objetos metálicos de Mesoamérica, cuya tecnología provenía de esas regiones.

A la llegada de los españoles, el territorio del actual Michoacán y las zonas limítrofes estaban bajo el control del poderoso Imperio Tarasco, cuya capital se encontraba en Tzintzuntzan. Este imperio mantuvo constantes conflictos con el Imperio Mexica del centro de México a lo largo de su frontera oriental.

Durante muchos años, los restos arqueológicos de Occidente fueron intensamente saqueados; los objetos que originalmente se encontraban en tumbas o enterramientos se adquirían y vendían para pasar a formar parte de colecciones privadas, ya fuera dentro del país o en otros países. Hoy debemos conservar, proteger y conocer este patrimonio y testimonio de nuestro pasado.