Publications
Negotiating the past and present: a critical re-evaluation of public sector tourism strategies in Teotihuacan, Mexico’s world heritage
Teotihuacán, Mexico’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, exemplifies the tensions between global heritage prestige and localized sociocultural marginalization. A critical re-evaluation of public sector tourism strategies reveals how neoliberal policies prioritize mass visitation economies over community agency in heritage management. Despite UNESCO designation enhancing Teotihuacán's scientific and symbolic capital, institutionalized 'top-down' frameworks like Mexico’s Programa Pueblos Mágicos (PPM) commodify cultural heritage, favoring infrastructural investments for tourism over inclusive development. This study employs mixed-methods, including interviews with policymakers, stakeholders, and discourse analysis of tourism legislation, to expose the paradoxical coexistence of global recognition and localized disenfranchisement.
Monkeys in the City of Gods
Archaeological evidence reveals that Mesoamerican spider monkeys (Ateles cf. A. geoffroyi) were present in the Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan, with biological remains found in significant structures like the Pyramid of the Moon and Xalla, alongside portable material culture resembling primates, particularly in Tetitla and La Ventilla. Murals depicting monkeys were also discovered at these sites, suggesting that primates held symbolic value for the city's ruling elite and possibly other Mesoamerican societies. The study proposes that primates may have been introduced through trade or cultural exchange with distant regions like the Mayan area and Oaxacan province, particularly during the Classic period (~200–550 CE). While their presence is relatively scarce given Teotihuacan's size and research history, the findings indicate that both living primates and their representations circulated widely within the city.
Reconstruyendo el “Proyecto Teotihuacán” del INAH, 1962-1964 (temporadas IV y V)
A groundbreaking reconstruction of INAH's 'Proyecto Teotihuacán' (1962–1964) reveals unprecedented insights into the archaeological memory and methodological challenges of one of Latin America's most significant pre-Hispanic excavations. This study synthesizes previously unpublished technical reports, offering a comprehensive overview of Seasons IV and V, which followed earlier campaigns (1960–1962). By analyzing primary documentary sources, it elucidates the narratives constructed by specialists regarding Teotihuacan's pre-Hispanic society and the evolution of archaeological practices in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The research highlights the logistical and institutional hurdles faced during large-scale reconstructions, providing a critical framework for understanding both the ancient metropolis and the history of archaeology in Mexico.
Animal Management at the Ancient Metropolis of Teotihuacan, Mexico: Stable Isotope Analysis of Leporid (Cottontail and Jackrabbit) Bone Mineral
Stable isotope analysis reveals that cottontails and jackrabbits at Teotihuacan were provisioned with human-cultivated foods, such as maize, suggesting intentional management or breeding during the city's peak (AD 1-550). The study analyzed bone mineral isotopes from 134 ancient leporid specimens, comparing them to modern samples. High δ13Capatite values in Oztoyahualco, a residential complex with rabbit sculptures and butchering traces, indicate human provisioning, while stable δ18Oapatite values suggest consistent environmental conditions. This provides evidence for mammalian animal husbandry in ancient Mesoamerica.
Restos de Cangrejo Rojo (Gecarcinus lateralis) y Cangrejo Azul (Cardisoma guanhumi), en el Contexto Arqueológico Teotihuacano de Teopancazco
A rare discovery of crab remains, specifically from the red crab (Gecarcinus lateralis) and blue crab (Cardisoma guanhumi), in the archaeological context of Teopancazco at the Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan reveals a previously undocumented cultural relationship between ancient central Mexican societies and coastal inhabitants. This finding, derived from excavations led by Dr. Linda R. Manzanilla, indicates that these crabs were part of the region's biodiversity and likely played roles in trade, rituals, or diet during the late Tlamimilolpa to Xolalpan stages (300-600 AD). The presence of fish bones, a sea urchin, and crab chelae fragments underscores the significance of coastal wildlife in Teotihuacan's socio-economic landscape, challenging previous assumptions about its limited interaction with marine resources.
Teotihuacan Empire
Teotihuacan, a sprawling pre-industrial city founded around 150 BCE in highland Central Mexico, rose rapidly to become the dominant political and economic power of its time. Its influence extended beyond its urban core, absorbing and controlling neighboring regions, possibly even distant ones. The city's decline was marked by a catastrophic fire around 600 CE, which destroyed its core and signaled the end of Teotihuacan's prominence as a major pre-Hispanic urban center. This summary synthesizes key findings from Robertson (2016), highlighting Teotihuacan's significance as an early complex society and the abrupt nature of its collapse.
Cosmopolitanism in Mexican Visual Culture
Art historian María Fernández redefines cosmopolitanism as a fluctuating complex of relations, material and virtual, where power plays a cohesive yet unstable role. Her study examines Mexican visual culture through eight case studies, from colonial monuments to modern 'relational architecture,' revealing how cosmopolitanism is intertwined with power, violence, and the haunting legacy of colonialism. A key finding is that the cultural valorization of ancient sites like Teotihuacan during the Porfiriato period was often built on the destruction of living indigenous cultures, illustrating the dual nature of modernization and its consequences.
Stable Isotopes and Zooarchaeology at Teotihuacan, Mexico Reveal Earliest Evidence of Wild Carnivore Management in Mesoamerica
Research at Teotihuacan, Mexico, provides the earliest evidence of wild carnivore management for ritualistic purposes in Mesoamerica, predating historical accounts by nearly 1000 years. Stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of bones and teeth from nearly 200 carnivorous animals, including eagles and felids, reveals that some were fed a maize-based diet, indicative of captivity. Skeletal pathologies further support this finding, showing signs of infectious disease and injuries consistent with captive conditions. This study challenges previous assumptions about the timing and extent of carnivore management in the region, offering new insights into the social and ritualistic significance of these animals during the construction of the Moon and Sun Pyramids (A.D. 1-550).
Vestigios del recurso costero en el sitio arqueológico de Teopancazco, Teotihuacan, Estado de México
Archaeological evidence from Teopancazco, a peripheral neighborhood of the ancient city of Teotihuacán, challenges the long-held assumption that pre-Hispanic inhabitants had limited access to coastal resources. The study identifies multiple fish species, including bobo mullet (Joturus pichardi), red snapper (Lutjanus sp), common snook (Centropomus sp), mojarra (Diapterus sp), and barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), preserved in the archaeological context. This discovery suggests that Teotihuacans not only had access to but also valued coastal resources, contradicting previous notions about their dietary preferences. The research synthesizes findings from prior studies on ichthyofauna capture, preparation, and use, providing a comprehensive overview of marine resource exploitation in this central Mexican plateau setting.
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