Estela with a Mayan leader image is found
By: Ligia María
Translated from Spanish; original version below.
Mexico City. January 14th, 2010. A Mayan stone carving (estela) with a leader’s image about 1,000 years old was found on an archeological zone of Lagartero on the south state of Chiapas, Mexico, from the National Institute of Anthropology and History. (INAH)
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On the carving a Mayan leader is bending down over somebody who is lying down. It is a scene showing one Mayan group taking power over another,” explained the INAH.
Experts of INAH found the estela late 2009 on the tenth section in Pyramid Four in Lagartero.
Archeologist Sonia Rivero Torres in charge of the Archeological Lagartero Program, informed that the estela or commemorative monument – the first one found in a complete piece – is 2 meters by 55 centimeters wide by 6 meters thick .
The estela was carved on a metamorphic rock known as “heart of stone.”
In this pre-Hispanic monument appear a profile image of a Mayan leader. He has a bag with incense on his hand, and is dressed with loincloth and sandals.
The archeologists also found a small pot. Beside the pot they found a plate and a black cup .
By: Ligia María
Translated from Spanish; original version below.
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Guatemala, January 8th, 2010.According to tradition, the small village of Pixabaj (Sololá) chose their communal corporation represented by 22 members, whom were visiting different institutions to offer their collaboration in this just started year.
New indigenous authorities of the mayor’s office in the small village of Pixabaj were presenting themselves at institutions and government office, to offer collaboration during the year so they can represent their community.
The assembly of the small village chose the communal corporation on December 31st last year. The group of 22 members took possession on January 4th; keeping their tradition yesterday they assumed their charges´ responsibilities.
They visited Public Ministry, governorship, judicial system, health organization and mayor’s office.
The group is integrated for: first mayor and second mayor, two directors, one secretary, two notes watchers and 15 sheriffs.
Indigenous leaders coordinate actions to protect communal forests
By: Ligia María
Translated from Spanish; original version below. If the link below does not work, is because the news service is making some changes. It will be working shortly.
Guatemala January 1st, 2010. The net of indigenous authorities of 201 villages and 11 departments of the country are coordinating actions with Environmental Ministry and the National Institute of Forests (Inab) in order to protect and preserve communal forests.
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Juan Pu Hernandez, representing the net of indigenous authorities said: “some sectors of Chimaltenango and Escuintla are receiving the forest incentives but are not taking care of natural reserves”.
Luis Ferrata, minister of Environmental Issues, communicated that it is going to create sub-councils around all communities. These sub-councils will be actively participating in the process of protection and preservation of the forests.
Ferrata said also that the indigenous pueblos are eager to participate because they consider those ecosystems as a source of water production, animal species preservation and medicinal plants…not just places to get wood from and to receive monetary income.
Representative of the region, Edwin Pereira, considers that this is the right time for these actions, since every month there are new projects of forest protection.
Indigenous Communities of Guatemala changed their authorities
By: Ligia María
Translated from Spanish; original version below.
Guatemala, January 1st, 2010.This Friday the indigenous of Guatemala according with their tradition and keeping an ancestral system, changed their traditional authorities.
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On the first day of the year indigenous communities changed their traditional authorities in order to continue with their ancestral system, and informed the Latin press of this change.
Transferring the responsibilities of this charge of authority keeps the power and credibility on the indigenous authorities.
The indigenous in charge of these responsibilities do not stay always for a certain period of time; it may change every other year. There are more than twenty-four structures like this in the country, grouped according with ethnic characteristics.
Some of these structures stayed unaffected over time; others were rescued for their members in the last years in an effort to recover their traditional system.
Guatemalan Association of Mayors and Indigenous Authorities have explained that during the colonial period, official authorities were imposed on indigenous authorities, but ancestral authorities have survived and are reemerging.
Mayan mask is found in Guatemalan Jungle
By: Ligia María
Translated from Spanish; original version below.
Valencia, Spain. January 26th, 2010. A team of Spanish investigators found a decorated Mayan mask in Guatemalan jungle from year between 300 and 600 after Christ.
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The investigators indicated that the mask was hidden for centuries under large vegetation that covers the archeological ruins of Chilonché, north of Guatemala.
The investigators are still in Guatemala working on a project supported by Ministry of Culture and Science of Spain.
The mask could belong chronologically to a previous epoch compared with the architecture found in this Mayan settlement, said Gaspar Muñoz Cosme, from the department of architectural composition.
“This is important because it gives us important scientific dates to know better the architecture of the place and of the ancient Mayan habitants, said Muñoz.
It is a big mask approximately 2.8 by 3 meters wide and 1.50 meters height. The mask is very well preserved.
The investigators from Valencia were examining the antiques Mayan edifications of archeologist place of Chilonché when they found the mask about few months ago.
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