海角社区

Lidar mapping in a Zapotec sacred mountain: Archaeology of Guiengola, a fortified Mesoamerican city

Pedro Guillermo Ram贸n Celis, Ph.D.
Banting Postdoctoral Researcher, 海角社区

This presentation explores the foundational significance of Guiengola, one of the first cities built by the Zapotecs in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, and its profound connection to their identity. Guiengola, constructed during the Zapotec migration in the late Postclassic period (1350 - 1521), represents a key moment in the Zapotecs' expansion outside their traditional homeland in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca. It is also recognized as the site where the Zapotecs successfully defended against and defeated the Mexica (Aztec) armies in 1496, solidifying its status as a sacred landscape for the descendants in nearby Santo Domingo Tehuantepec. My research, conducted in collaboration with the communal landowners, respects and incorporates their knowledge and protocols, ensuring that ethical field methods align with community concerns. This project underscores the importance of non-extractive scientific practices in enriching archaeological research. Utilizing airborne LiDAR scanning and pedestrian surveys, I examine the distribution and variability of residential architecture and material assemblages by analyzing the city's urban layout. My findings reveal how commoners adapted and transformed their everyday practices within the new environment of the Isthmus, offering a deeper understanding of the sociopolitical dynamics that drove Zapotec migration and contributed to the roots of their enduring identity.