The Young Woman of Amajac

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The Young Woman of Amajac
La Joven de Amajac
La joven de Amajac (cropped).jpg
MaterialLimestone
Long60 cm (24 in)
Height2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Width25 cm (9.8 in)
CreatedPostclassic period (c. 1451–1521 CE)
Discovered1 January 2021
Hidalgo Amajac, Álamo Municipality, Veracruz
Discovered byLocal farmers
Present locationNational Museum of Anthropology
CultureHuastec
The Young Woman of Amajac is located in Mexico
Mexico City
Mexico City
Hidalgo Amajac
Hidalgo Amajac

The Young Woman of Amajac[1][2] (Spanish: La Joven de Amajac [aˈmaxak]) is a pre-Hispanic sculpture depicting an indigenous woman. The piece is on display at Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology. It was discovered in January 2021 in the Huasteca region, in eastern Mexico. A replica is slated to replace the Monument to Christopher Columbus along Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma.

The sculpture is estimated to have been created between 1450 and 1521, during the postclassic period. It is a 2-meter (6 ft 7 in) tall, 60-centimeter (24 in) wide, and 25-centimeter (9.8 in) thick limestone artwork that depicts a woman wearing a blouse and ankle-length skirt.[3][4] She appears to wear jewelry, including circular pendants known as "oyohualli".[3] Her eyes are hollow indicating that they probably had stones in them.[4] At her bare feet,[4] there is a stake that allowed the sculpture to be placed in the ground upright.[3]

Discovery[]

A group of farmers discovered the sculpture on 1 January 2021 while preparing to till the land in a citrus field in the town of Hidalgo Amajac, in Álamo Municipality, Veracruz.[5][6] It is not known whom it is supposed to represent.[1] The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) considered it was similar to the Huastec's fertility goddess, but did not dismiss it as being a representation of a member of the elite.[1] It is the first sculpture of its kind to be found near the Tuxpan River.[5]

According to Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, the head of the nation's Secretariat of Culture, the find is significant. Likely representing an important female ruler, it supports the idea of women's participation in the political life of the Huastecs.[3]

Replica[]

It was announced on 12 October 2021 that a replica of The Young Woman of Amajac will replace the now removed, Monument to Christopher Columbus along Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma. The Columbus statue was removed in October 2020 by the local government.[1][2] It also replaces the proposal to install Tlalli, a giant head by Pedro Reyes. Reyes's proposal was not well-received and was canceled by the city in September 2021.[7] The Young Woman of Amajac will be around 6 m (20 ft) tall and it will stand on top of the 19th century neoclassical pedestal created for the Columbus statue.[1][8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Agren, David (12 October 2021). "Mexico City to replace Columbus statue with pre-Hispanic sculpture of woman". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Pre-Hispanic woman sculpture replaces Columbus in Mexico". The Washington Post. Mexico City. Associated Press. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Geggel, Laura (12 January 2021). "Statue of mysterious woman with 'Star Wars'-like headdress found in Mexico". Live Science. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "First pre-Colombian sculpture of the female form found in Veracruz". TecReview. Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "A one-of-its-kind pre-Hispanic sculpture has been discovered in Veracruz". Rivera Maya News. Hidalgo Amajac, Veracruz. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  6. ^ Salazar, Wendy (12 October 2021). "¿Cómo se encontró 'La joven de Amajac' en Veracruz y a quién representa?" [How 'the Young Woman of Amajac' was found and to whom it represents?]. Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  7. ^ ""La joven de Amajac", la escultura que representará a las mujeres indígenas y sustituirá a Cristóbal Colón en Reforma". Infobae (in Spanish). 12 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  8. ^ "'La joven de Amajac' sustituirá finalmente a la estatua de Colón en la Ciudad de México" ['The Young Woman of Amajac' will finally substitute the Columbus statue in Mexico City]. DW (in Spanish). 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

External links[]

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