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Teotihuacán. Contested Landscapes: Who’s Right and Whose Right?. Section 111. Contested Landscapes. Contested landscapes are those archaeological sites that have strong significance to a variety of different interest groups. Significance. Religious. Economic. Tourism. Nationalism.
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Teotihuacán Contested Landscapes: Who’s Right and Whose Right? Section 111
Contested Landscapes Contested landscapes are those archaeological sites that have strong significance to a variety of different interest groups Significance Religious Economic Tourism Nationalism Pleasure
Overview Goal: To present the “multivocality” of contestation, the many viewpoints of the site’s significance.
Overview How does a land that means so much to so many people create such rifts in society?
History, Chronology and Archaeology Teotihuacan • 30 miles from Mexico City • One of the largest cities in ancient Mexico (300-500BC) • 200,000 inhabitants peak in 600AD. • Downfall in 750 AD • Central Teotihuacán mysteriously burned down – reasons unknown • Aztecs discovered the site and named it“The city of the gods” in Nahuatl, an Aztec language
History, Chronology and Archaeology Excavation and reconstruction (late 1800’s to present) discoveries: very well developed civilization for its time • Unique urban layout • Monumental architecture • Strong religious and political influence • over 2,000 structures • Several pyramids • Residential neighborhoods (8 sq. mi and larger)
History, Chronology and Archaeology Much of Teotihuacan’s chronology is based on: • ceramic typology • stratigraphic data • Carbon 14 dating In the 1960s: • French archaeologist René Millon • led the first systematic survey • “The Teotihuacán Mapping Project”
Religious and Spiritual Significance Teotihuacános were extremely religious. The three most important religious pyramids were: • 210 feet tall • 700 feet at its baselines • 268 steps to its summit • The Storm God, also called Tlaloc was “housed” in the Pyramid of the Moon • The deity depicted here, Quetzalcoatl was as important as Christ is to Christians
Religious and Spiritual Significance • Priests - primary importance and prominent role in society • Human sacrifices assured humanity’s continued existence • At least 100 to 200 of Teotihuacan's own soldiers were sacrificed in two ceremonies: • The layout and architecture harmonized with religious beliefs • Avenue of the Dead • Architecture reflects divisions in calendar
Identity and Nationalism • Government demands the turning over artifacts to the national museum • Alienation of many other groups without Aztec ties. • Nationalistic pride by utilizing archaeological research. • Teotihuacan represented as a greater Mexican past and heritage • Aztec civilization elevated to the glory and historic significance of the ancient European civilizations
Economic Significance Teotihuacan made into a World Heritage site in 1987 by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) • Main tenant of World Heritage preservation is economic gain through international tourism • The economic boom brings: • Money for restoration and upkeep • Great damage through trampling and graffiti
Economic Significance • One of the largest sources of income and most visited places in Mexico today • 3rd most important economic activity in Mexico • Mexico ranks 8th in the number of international visitors and 10th in international tourism revenues • In 2005, Mexico’s tourism industry brought in $10 billion and Mexico is home to the worlds seventh largest hotel industry
Stakeholders Major stakeholders include: • INAH and the Mexican government • those living on the outskirts of Teotihuacan • Wal-Mart and other big corporations • New Agers • Archaeologists • indigenous people
Credits Ralitza Dineva significance research, script compiling, editing PowerPoint slides, overall editing
Credits Gracie Halpern research, scriptwriter
Credits Lotus Lee Basic Teotihuacan Research Script Editing Media Pictures/Images, Music
Credits Damon Klebe - Research: Architectural Symbolism, Landscape,Centralization, Nationalism; Organization; Bibliography.
Credits Kate Fickas Contested Landscape Research, Image Compilation, Power Point Compilation/Production, PowerPoint editing
Credits Michelle Torres Image Compilation, Video Compilation, Econ/Tourism Research
Credits Eric Koo Research, Bibliography, Project Compilation
Credits Lucky Sachdeva General/Background Research, Bibliography, Videos/Pictures.
Credits Valerie Lu Narration Production
Credits Hana Cutura Research, and Image compilation
Credits Sam Csider Script Writing and Image Compilation
Credits Michelle Nguyeni Walmart Research.
Credits Kinh Cun Research on General Info, Image Compiler
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